Difference between George Cross and Victoria Cross
The George Cross and the Victoria Cross are two of the highest awards in the United Kingdom.
The main difference between George Cross and Victoria Cross is that the former is awarded for acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger, not in the face of the enemy, while the latter is awarded for most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy.
Before we move to the differences, let’s understand what are George Cross and Victoria Cross:
- George Cross: The George Cross is a special award given in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries. It’s given to people who show great bravery, even when their life is in danger, but not in a war.
- Victoria Cross: The Victoria Cross is the highest honor given in the UK and other Commonwealth countries. It’s for people who show extreme bravery during war, even when they might lose their life.
Now, let’s move to George Cross vs Victoria Cross:
Major differences between George Cross and Victoria Cross
| George Cross | Victoria Cross |
|---|---|
| The Victoria Cross is awarded for most conspicuous bravery in the presence of the enemy, | The George Cross is awarded for acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger, not in the face of the enemy. |
| The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration, | The George Cross is the highest civilian award for gallantry. |
| The Victoria Cross is made from the bronze of two cannons captured from the Russians during the Crimean War, | The George Cross is made from silver. |
| The Victoria Cross was instituted by Queen Victoria in 1856, | The George Cross was instituted by King George VI in 1940. |
| The Victoria Cross has a crimson ribbon, | The George Cross has a blue ribbon. |
That’s it.
Note that sometimes, the question might also be asked as “distinguish between George Cross and Victoria Cross”.
Also see:
- Difference between Geophone and Hydrophone
- Difference between Geometry and Trigonometry
- Difference between Geometry and Topology
Final words
Understanding the distinction between these two awards can help appreciate the diverse forms of courage and heroism recognized by the United Kingdom.
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