Heroic Theme to Pembroke Lecture
The History of the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest decoration for gallantry in the face of the enemy, is the focus of the next Pembroke Lecture, which will be given at the University of Greenwich at Medway on Wednesday, September 26.
First awarded to commend those who fought in the Crimean War, the Victoria Cross (VC) is named due to its commission during the reign of Queen Victoria. Although created for soldiers in the Crimea, it was 12 months after hostilities ended that the first award ceremony was performed on 26 June 1857. Its design owes much to the Queen herself.
The lecture will trace the history and the origins of the cross from its inception until the present day. Given by Lt. Col. Michael Martin, formerly of the Royal Hampshire Regiment, it will also include features on individual acts of bravery and notable deeds of valour performed over the past 150 years which have merited the medal.
Previously the highest award was the Order of the Bath, which was limited exclusively to Officers. The objective of the creation of the VC was to produce an award which would be available to all soldiers regardless of rank or status and which would fairly reflect the individual achievements of those fighting.
Professor Alan Reed, of the University of Greenwich at Medway, who organises the Pembroke Lecture series says: “The lecture will provide an inspiring and informative history of a medal which is of so high a repute here in the UK and which is still the highest military honour in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
“Some 150 years after the foundation of the Cross, it has been awarded over 1,350 times to members of the Armed Forces, the last of these for services in the Iraq war.”
Tickets for the lecture are free and are available from 5 September 2007. The talk will be held at 6:30 pm for 7:00pm in the Wardroom of the Pembroke Building at the University of Greenwich at Medway in Chatham Maritime.
For further information and bookings, please contact Amanda Ward at the University of Greenwich at Medway, Office of Regional Development tel: 01634 883154, fax: 01634 883534 or email: a.j.ward@gre.ac.uk
For interview opportunities, please contact:
· University of Greenwich at Medway Public Relations, tel: 020 8331 9420
· Delphine Houlton, Andrew Metcalf or Jez Durrant, at Maxim, tel: 01892 513033