Apparently, Queen Victoria was very involved int he design of the Vicoria Cross.
One story I heard of was regarding the inscription ‘For Valour’. She is reputed to have vetoed ‘For Courage’ and ‘For Bravery’ on the the grounds that to have used them, it would imply that those soldiers not receiving the award were not brave or courageous, so she came up with the above mentioned inscription.
I wondered if anyone new of the offical standards or criteria which had to be met in order to make an award e.g. chances of being killed, witnesses etc. - not only for a VC but for other gallantry awards such as the MC, CMH etc.?
For Valour
The design and manufacture of the new award was entrusted to the relatively recently established company of Hancocks, who are still the sole supplier. The War Office suggested that the design should follow on the lines of the Army Gold Cross, which had been awarded to generals and officers of field rank who had fought in four or more battles of the Peninsular War. It was further decided that the cross should be made from the bronze of captured Russian cannon. There were two reasons for this; the first being that it was symbolic of a British victory. The second, being that the metal was of no intrinsic value and less of a temptation for the recipient to sell Her Majesty’s personal award for drink!
Both Victoria and Albert spent much time in considering the designs that were submitted for their approval. The Queen approved a design of a cross pattee with a lion statant gardant on the royal crown, with the words “For Valour” on a semi-circular scroll. Victoria had amended the original wording from “For the Brave” to “For Valour”, on the grounds that it would appear that only the brave received the Cross.