. Our sovereign lady, Queen Victoria: her life and jubilee . cognized, and the brave deeds of a number of menduring: the Crimean War had accentuated the desire to recognizetheir valour by some token which should confer upon themespecial honour, and be bestowed by the Queen herself. The warrant for instituting a decoration, to be called theVictoria Cross and to be inscribed For Valour, had been madeout in 1856, and it was understood that the distinction would beconferred on those men who had served in presence of theenemy and had performed some signal act of valour or devotionto their country.
. Our sovereign lady, Queen Victoria: her life and jubilee . cognized, and the brave deeds of a number of menduring: the Crimean War had accentuated the desire to recognizetheir valour by some token which should confer upon themespecial honour, and be bestowed by the Queen herself. The warrant for instituting a decoration, to be called theVictoria Cross and to be inscribed For Valour, had been madeout in 1856, and it was understood that the distinction would beconferred on those men who had served in presence of theenemy and had performed some signal act of valour or devotionto their country. When the list was made up it was found that sixty-two menwere entitled to this honour, and it was announced that thedecoration would take place in Hyde Park, where early in themorning of the day mentioned more than 100,000 people hadassembled, without counting 12,000 who occupied an immensesemicircle of raised seats. About 4000 troops kept the openspace, and below them, over the royal pavilion, were drawn upthe sixty-two men who were the heroes of the THE REWARD OF VALOUR. 267 Every heart beat high, as her Majesty appeared at about10 oclock riding into the park, mounted on a gray roan, whichwas her favourite horse. The Queen wore a scarlet jacket andblack skirt, and as she rode forward, attended by Prince Albert,Prince Frederick William of Prussia, and a brilliant suite, the scenewas truly magnificent. Her Majesty remained on horseback, andeach of the men to be decorated was brought up to her to receivethe decoration, which she fastened to his breast amidst thetumultuous cheering of the great assembly. As each man retiredthe Prince Consort saluted him by bowing to him with a gestureof marked respect. The ceremony was grandly significant, andthe bronze Maltese cross, with the crown in its centre, surmountedby the lion, and with laurel branches on the clasp from which itdepends, supported by the V, has ever since been, as it will surelyremain, a priceless distinction, value
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookpublisherlondo, bookyear1894
