View source for List of artillery recipients of the Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest British military decoration awarded for acts of valour in combat. Established by Queen Victoria on 29 January 1856 during the Crimean War, it has been awarded 1,356 times, with three recipients receiving it twice. Initially, posthumous awards were not granted, but this policy evolved over time, culminating in a quarter of First World War VC awards being posthumous.

The VC's design is traditionally said to use gunmetal from Russian cannons captured at Sevastopol, though recent research challenges this claim. The medal is highly valued, with some fetching over £400,000 at auction. Lord Ashcroft's private collection, amassed since 1986, includes over one-tenth of all VCs and was displayed at the Imperial War Museum from 2010.

The Victoria Cross has also been adopted by three Commonwealth countries since 1990. Sixty-five VC awards have been made to members of the British Royal Artillery across eight wars, including recipients from India, Australia, and former British armies. Notable examples include Second Lieutenant George Gunn, awarded posthumously for bravery at the Battle of Sidi Rezegh, after which a battery was named in his honour.

The VC remains a prestigious and rare decoration, reflecting exceptional courage in combat.