THE year 1856 was memorable for the establishment of a decoration to which all ranks of the army and navy might aspire. This new reward of valour appropriately bears the name of the "VICTORIA CROSS," and its value is heightened by the fact of the Queen personally conferring the distinction, when the recipient happens to be in this country. It consists of a Maltese cross of bronze, attached by the letter V to a bar, on which a sprig of laurel is embossed. The royal

crest is in the centre of the Cross, and beneath is an escroll bearing the inscription "For Valour;" the reverse is plain, the name and corps of the recipient being engraved on the bar to which the ribbon is attached, and the date of the act of bravery in the centre of the Cross. The ribbon for the army is red, whilst for the navy it is blue. All are placed on an equal footing as regards eligibility for this decoration, as neither rank, long service, wounds, nor any other circumstance whatever, save conspicuous bravery, can establish a claim to the honour. Every non-commissioned officer or soldier is entitled to a special pension of ten pounds a year from the date of the act by which the decoration was gained. Should further acts of bravery be performed by a recipient, which, had he not already received the Cross, would have entitled him thereto, additional bars attached to the ribbon are accorded, carrying with them further pensions of five pounds per annum for each. The same of course holds good for the navy. The names of recipients are published in the "London Gazette," and a registry thereof is kept in the office of the Secretary of State for War. The following officers and men received the VICTORIA CROSS for services performed during the Russian war.

SECOND DRAGOONS. Sergeant-Major JOHN GRIEVE.-Saved the life of an officer in the heavy cavalry charge at Balaklava, who was surrounded by Russian cavalry, by his gallant conduct in riding up to his rescue and cutting off the head of one Russian, disabling and dispersing the others. Sergeant HENRY RAMAGE.--For having at the action at

Balaklava galloped out to the assistance of Private M'Pherson of the same regiment, on perceiving him surrounded by seven Russians, when by his gallantry he dispersed the enemy and saved his comrade's life. For having on the same day, when the heavy brigade was rallying and the enemy retiring, finding his horse would not leave the ranks, dismounted, and brought in a prisoner from the Russian lines. Also for having dismounted on the same day, when the heavy brigade was covering the retreat of the light cavalry, and lifted from his horse Private Gardiner, who was disabled from a severe fracture of the leg by a round shot. Sergeant Ramage then carried him to the rear from under a very heavy cross fire, thereby saving his life, the spot where he must inevitably have fallen having been immediately afterwards covered by the Russian cavalry.

FOURTH LIGHT DRAGOONS.

Private SAMUEL PARKES.-In the

charge of the light cavalry brigade at Balaklava, Trumpet-Major Crawford's horse fell, and dismounted him, and he lost his sword; he was attacked by two Cossacks, when Private Samuel Parkes (whose horse had been shot) saved his life, by placing himself between them and the TrumpetMajor, and drove them away with his sword. In attempting to follow the light cavalry brigade in the retreat, they were attacked by six Russians, whom Parkes kept at bay, and retired slowly, fighting, and defending the trumpet-Major for some time, until deprived of his sword by a shot. SIXTH DRAGOONS. Surgeon JAMES MOUAT, C.B.—For having voluntarily proceeded to the assistance of Lieutenant-Colonel Morris, C.B., 17th. Lancers, who was lying dangerously wounded in an exposed situation after the retreat of the light cavalry at the action of Balaklava, and having dressed that officer's wounds in presence of and under a heavy fire from the enemy. Thus, by stopping a serious hemorrhage, he assisted in saving that officer's life.

ELEVENTH HUSSARS.

Lieutenant ALEXANDER ROBERT DUNN.

For having in the light cavalry charge, on the 25th. of October, 1854, saved the life of Sergeant-Major Bently, 11th. Hussars, by cutting down two or three Russian lancers who were attacking him from the rear, and afterwards cutting down a Russian hussar who was attacking Private Levett, 11th. Hussars.

THIRTEENTH LIGHT DRAGOONS. Sergeant JOSEPH MALONE.-For having stopped under a very heavy fire to take charge of Captain Webb, 17th. Lancers, until others arrived to assist him in removing that officer, who was, as it afterwards proved, mortally wounded. Sergeant Malone performed this act of bravery on the 25th. of October, 1854, while returning on foot from the charge at the action of Balaklava, in which his horse had been shot.

SEVENTEENTH LANCERS. Sergeant-Major CHARLES WOODEN.-For having, after the retreat of the light cavalry, at the action of Balaklava, been instrumental, together with Dr. James Mouat, C.B., in saving the life of Lieutenant-Colonel Morris, C.B., of the 17th. Lancers, by proceeding under a heavy fire to his assistance, when he was lying very dangerously wounded in an exposed situation. Quartermaster-Sergeant JOHN FARRALL. -For having remained, amidst a shower of shot and shell, with Captain

Webb, who was severely wounded, and whom he and Sergeant-Major Berryman had carried as far as the pain of his wounds would allow, until a stretcher was procured, when he assisted the sergeant-major and a private of the 13th. Light Dragoons (Malone) to carry that officer off the field. This took place on the 25th. of October, 1854, after the charge at Balaklava, in which Farrall's horse was killed under him. Troop Sergeant-Major JOHN BERRYMAN.-Served with his regiment the whole of the war, was present at the battle of the Alma, and also engaged in the pursuit at Mackenzie's Farm, where he succeeded in capturing three Russian prisoners, when they were within reach of their own guns. Was present and charged at the action of Balaklava, where, his horse being shot under him, he stopped on the field with a wounded officer (Captain Webb) amidst a shower of shot and shell, although repeatedly told by that officer to consult his own safety, and leave him; but he refused to do so, and on Sergeant John Farrall coming by, with his assistance, he carried Captain Webb out of range of the guns. He received also a clasp for Inkermann.

ROYAL ARTILLERY. Captain and Brevet-Lieutenant-Colonel COLLINGWOOD DICKSON, C.B.-For having, on the 17th of October, 1854, when the batteries of the right attack had run short of powder, displayed the greatest coolness and contempt of danger in directing the unloading of several waggons of the field battery which were brought up to the trenches to supply the want, and having personally assisted in carrying the powder barrels under a severe fire from the enemy. Brevet-LieutenantColonel MATTHEW CHARLES DIXON.-On the 17th. of April, 1855, about two pm., when the battery he commanded was blown up by a shell from the enemy, which burst in the magazine, destroyed the parapets, killed and wounded ten men, disabled five guns, and covered a sixth with earth; for most gallantly re-opening fire with the remaining gun before the enemy had ceased cheering from their parapets (on which they had mounted,) and fighting it until sunset, despite the heavy concentrated fire of the enemy's batteries, and the ruined state of his own. Captain FREDERICK MILLER.-For having at the battle of Inkermann personally attacked three Russians, and, with the gunners of his division of the battery, prevented the Russians from doing mischief to the guns which they had surrounded. Part of a regiment of English infantry had previously retired through the battery in front of this body of Russians. Captain GRONOW DAVIS.-For great coolness and gallantry in the attack on the Redan, on the 8th. of September, 1855, on which occasion he commanded the spiking party, and after which he saved the life of Lieutenant Sanders, 30th. Foot, by jumping over the parapet of a sap, and proceeding twice some distance across the open under a "murderous" fire to assist in conveying that officer, whose leg was broken, and who was otherwise severely wounded, under cover; and repeated this act in the conveyance of other wounded soldiers from the same exposed position. Lieutenant CHRISTOPHER CHARLES TEESDALE, C.B.For gallant conduct in having, while acting as aide-de-camp to MajorGeneral Sir William Fenwick Williams, Bart., K.C.B., at Kars, volunteered to take command of the force engaged in the defence of the most advanced

part of the works, the key of the position, against the attack of the Russian army; when, by throwing himself into the midst of the enemy, who had penetrated into the above redoubt, on the 29th. of September, 1855, he encouraged the garrison to make an attack so vigorous as to drive out the Russians therefrom, and prevent its capture; also for having, during the hottest part of the action, when the enemy's fire had driven the Turkish artillerymen from their guns, rallied the latter, and by his intrepid example induced them to return to their post; and further, after having led the final charge which completed the victory of the day, for having, at the greatest personal risk, saved from the fury of the Turks a considerable number of the disabled among the enemy, who were lying wounded outside the works, an action witnessed and acknowledged gratefully before the Russian staff by General Mouravieff. Sergeant-Major ANDREW HENRY.-For defending the guns of his battery against overwhelming numbers of the enemy at the battle of Inkermann, and continuing to do so until he had received twelve bayonet wounds. Sergeant DANIEL CAMBRIDGE.-For having volunteered for the spiking party at the assault on the Redan, on the 8th. of September, 1855, and continuing therewith after having been severely wounded, and for having, in the after part of the same day, gone out in front of the advanced trench under a heavy fire to bring in a wounded man, in performing which service he was himself severely wounded a second time. Sergeant GEORGE SYMONS.-For conspicuous gallantry on the 6th. of June, 1855, in having volunteered to unmask the embrasures of a five-gun battery in the advanced right attack, and when so employed, under a terrific fire which the enemy commenced immediately on the opening of the first embrasure, and increased on the unmasking of each additional one, in having overcome the great difficulty of uncovering the last by boldly mounting the parapet and throwing down the sand-bags, when a shell from the enemy burst and wounded him severely. Gunner and Driver THOMAS ARTHUR.-When in charge of the magazine in one of the left advanced batteries of the right attack on the 7th. of June, 1855, when the Quarries were taken, he of his own accord, carried barrels of infantry aminunition for the 7th. Fusiliers several times during the evening across the open. Volunteered for, and formed one of the spiking party of artillery at the assault on the Redan, on the 18th. of June, 1855. ROYAL ENGINEERS. Captain and Brevet-Major HOWARD CRAUFURD ELPHINSTONE. For fearless conduct in having, on the night after the unsuccessful attack on the Redan, on the 18th. of June, 1855, volunteered to command a party of volunteers who proceeded to search for and bring back the scaling ladders left behind after the repulse; and while successfully performing this task of rescuing trophies from the Russians, Captain Elphinstone conducted a persevering search close to the enemy for wounded men, twenty of whom he rescued and brought back to the trenches. Lieutenant GERALD GRAHAM.-Determined gallantry at the head of a ladder party, at the assault of the Redan, on the 18th. of June, 1855. Devoted heroism in sallying out of the trenches on numerous occasions, and bringing in wounded officers and men. Lieutenant W. O. LENNOX.-Cool and gallant conduct in establishing a lodgment in Tryon's