Elizabeth Cross Popular Books

Elizabeth Cross Biography & Facts

The Elizabeth Cross is a form of recognition given to the recognised next of kin of members of the British Armed Forces killed in action or as a result of a terrorist attack after the Second World War. It bears the name of Queen Elizabeth II. Appearance Designed by Dayna White of Birmingham jewellers Gladman & Norman Ltd, the award is made of sterling silver in the shape of a cross backed by a representation of a laurel wreath, and carries floral emblems of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, an appearance similar to the earlier Canadian Memorial Cross, awarded since 1919. The trial crosses, and the first few to be issued, were made by Gladman & Norman; the company was awarded the long-term production contract in October 2009. From May 2018 the contract to manufacture the cross passed to Worcestershire Medal Service. Families receive a large version of the cross, and a pin-on miniature, together with a Memorial Scroll signed by the sovereign which bears the name of the person who died. At the time of the award’s creation, the scroll bore the words: This scroll commemorates [name] who gave his/her life for Queen and country on the [date] day of [month] [year] The words were chosen by the previous Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion, and approved by the Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup and the three service chiefs. Institution and related awards The award was instituted by Queen Elizabeth II on 1 July 2009, but eligibility is retrospective to deaths from the end of the Second World War. Previously, for those who died in the First World War relatives were presented with a memorial scroll and bronze plaque, and for Second World War and Korean War deaths, relatives received a scroll. The creation of the award was announced in a written statement to the House of Commons by Secretary of State for Defence Bob Ainsworth on 1 July, and also in a broadcast on the British Forces Broadcasting Service made by the Queen. The idea for a new award was first approved on 10 June 2008, and it was expected that the details would be confirmed later that year. The formal royal warrant under the royal sign-manual establishing the Elizabeth Cross, dated 1 July 2009, was gazetted on 31 July 2009. Among other things, the royal warrant states that relatives of members of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary will also be eligible to receive the award. Award and eligibility The first crosses were issued by the Ministry of Defence Medal Office at Imjin Barracks, Innsworth on 1 August 2009. Next of kin have the choice of a public presentation by the local Lord Lieutenant or a senior officer, or a private ceremony. Only the recognised next of kin receive the cross and miniature, but other relatives are able to request the issue of additional scrolls. Awards for those killed since 2000 are processed automatically by the Ministry of Defence, relatives of those killed earlier have to contact the MoD themselves. Relatives of those killed in Korea will already have received a scroll, so are presented with the cross only. The first public presentation of an Elizabeth Cross was on 18 August 2009 in a ceremony at Catterick Garrison. It was awarded to Karen Upton, the widow of Warrant Officer Sean Upton who was killed while on active service in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. It was presented by the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, the Lord Crathorne, and the Master Gunner, St. James's Park, General Sir Timothy Granville-Chapman. The first presentations of the Elizabeth Cross to be made personally by Queen Elizabeth II took place on 12 September 2009. The precise eligibility requirements issued by the Ministry of Defence are: Those who died from whatever cause whilst serving on a medal earning operation. Medal earning operations are those in which deployed personnel received a Campaign Medal, General Service Medal or Operational Service Medal which demonstrated the risk and rigour involved. Operations where a UN, NATO or other international body or other nations' campaign medal was accepted for wear, in the absence of a UK medal also qualify. Those who died as a result of an act of terrorism where the available evidence suggests that the Service person, whether on or off duty, was targeted because of his or her membership of the UK Armed Forces. Those who died on a non-medal earning operational task where death has been caused by the inherent high risk of the task. Those who died a subsequent and premature death as a result of an injury or illness attributed to the circumstances outlined above. The service must have been undertaken on or after 1 January 1948 in general, or after 27 September 1945 in Palestine (other personnel from 1945 to 1947 were officially recognised as serving in the Second World War). In accordance with the Royal Warrant establishing the Elizabeth Cross, it is awarded upon recommendation made to the sovereign by the Secretary of State for Defence. Thus, the judgement concerning the fulfilment of the eligibility requirements in any particular case is made by the Ministry of Defence, and the formal award of the Elizabeth Cross is ordered by the monarch upon the advice of the Defence Secretary. As directed by the Royal Warrant, the names of all those who are commemorated with the award of the Elizabeth Cross are recorded in a Registry kept by the Ministry of Defence. Also in accordance with the Royal Warrant that established the Elizabeth Cross, the Cross and its miniature version may be worn by the recipient (i.e., the deceased's designated next of kin) at that person's discretion. In 2010, regulations were approved by Queen Elizabeth II dealing with the scenario of the designated next of kin of the deceased being himself or herself a member of the Armed Forces, and therefore making provision for the use of the Elizabeth Cross in military uniform. Under those regulations, the Elizabeth Cross can be worn on the right side of uniforms whenever other medals are worn if the recipient so chooses. The Ulster Defence Regiment CGC Successful applications Up to May 2010, 232 Elizabeth Crosses and Memorial Scrolls have been issued to the families of The Ulster Defence Regiment CGC personnel whose deaths are officially attributed to their military service. Failed applications Up to November 2010, 37 applications linked to The Ulster Defence Regiment CGC for the Elizabeth Cross have failed due to the following reasons: 22 died of natural causes whilst off duty 7 were killed in road accidents whilst off duty 4 were accidental deaths whilst off duty 2 died outside the Northern Ireland operational area 2 died after they were discharged from service. New Zealand Memorial Cross Since the Second World War New Zealand has similarly issued a cross to the relatives of those killed on active service. The New Zealand Memorial Cross was recently awarded to the family of the late Lt. Tim O'Donnell DSD as well as other soldiers' families who had served in Afghanistan. See al.... Discover the Elizabeth Cross popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Elizabeth Cross books.

Best Seller Elizabeth Cross Books of 2024

  • Good For Nothing synopsis, comments

    Good For Nothing

    Mariam Ansar

    'A gripping portrait of three very different teenagers and one divided northern town, Ansar's moving, funny YA debut feels entirely true to life' GuardianWhen three teens are land...

  • Why Your Parents Are Driving You Up the Wall and What To Do About It synopsis, comments

    Why Your Parents Are Driving You Up the Wall and What To Do About It

    Dean Burnett

    'A wonderfully useful book, told with wit and wisdom' Adam Kay, bestselling author of THIS IS GOING TO HURT"Get up or you'll miss the best part of the day!" "You treat this place...

  • MindShift to a Better Place synopsis, comments

    MindShift to a Better Place

    Mindshift Foundation, Elizabeth Venzin & Dr Lars Madsen

    Your guide to creating lasting change, selfworth and positive mental healthWe are a society that no longer takes mental health for granted. We've come a long way from the 'get over...

  • The Hound of the Baskervilles synopsis, comments

    The Hound of the Baskervilles

    Arthur Conan Doyle

    "Mr Holmes, they were the footprints of a gigantic hound!"The terrible spectacle of the beast, the fog of the moor, the discovery of a body: this classic horror story pits detectiv...

  • Warehouse synopsis, comments

    Warehouse

    Keith Gray

    'I know a place you can go'. It's a secret place hidden among the rundown buildings of the derelict dockyards. A community of young people have gathered in an old warehouse to get ...

  • My Kingdom for a Horse synopsis, comments

    My Kingdom for a Horse

    Ed West

    From William Shakespeare's series of history dramas to Sir Walter Scott and George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, not to mention the smashhit TV show Game of Thrones, the Br...

  • Rosicrucian America synopsis, comments

    Rosicrucian America

    Steven Sora

    An indepth history of Rosicrucianism, its key members, and their roles in the formation and settling of America Explores Sir Francis Bacon and Dr. John Dee’s deep influence on Eng...

  • The Kidnapped Bride synopsis, comments

    The Kidnapped Bride

    Heather Hiestand

    Pursuing this elusive heiress will be the ultimate temptation. . .Lady Elizabeth Shield is used to saving herself from trouble. And even if dashing private inquiry agent Dougal Ale...

  • Prove Yourself a Hero synopsis, comments

    Prove Yourself a Hero

    K M Peyton

    When Jonathan is tricked into accepting a lift home from two mysterious men in a van, it's the start of a terrifying event: a kidnapping. And if the ransom money doesn't arrive soo...

  • Bell of the Desert synopsis, comments

    Bell of the Desert

    Alan Gold

    A grand historical novel about Gertrude Bell, one of the most influential women of the twentieth century.She was the most celebrated adventurer of her day, the brains behind Lawren...

  • Six Foot Six synopsis, comments

    Six Foot Six

    Kit de Waal

    It's an exciting day for Timothy Flowers. It's the third of November, and it's Friday, and it's his twentyfirst birthday. When Timothy walks to his usual street corner to see his f...

  • The Trip synopsis, comments

    The Trip

    Deborah Davis

    From the author of Strapless and Guest of Honor, a “jaunty romp through American popart history” (The Washington Post) about a littleknown road trip Andy Warhol took in 1963, and h...

  • The Strange Crime of John Boulnois synopsis, comments

    The Strange Crime of John Boulnois

    G. K. Chesterton

    The colossus of crime leaned over to the little rustic priest with a sort of sudden interest.'You have heard of it?' he asked. 'Where have you heard of it?''Well, I mustn't tell yo...

  • Stories of the Saints synopsis, comments

    Stories of the Saints

    Carey Wallace & Nick Thornborrow

    Performing Miracles. Facing Wild Lions. Confronting Demons. Transforming the World. From Augustine to Mother Teresa, officially canonized as St. Teresa of Calcutta, discover sevent...