Are VCs inscribed with recipients details?

[Bardess]

I've been asked this question and have no idea.

[Stoppage Drill]

Yes. The recipients details are engraved on the reverse of the suspender bar, and the date of the act of valour is on the back of the medal itself.

[LarsA]

Yes, they are.

ATB,

Lars

[topgun1918]

Diane

There's a picture of the reverse of Frank McNamara's VC showing the details here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/royalairforcemuseum/8166779466/lightbox/

Graeme

[Bardess]

Wonderful. Thank you all

[Philip Wilson]

Yes see example

Lance Corporal T.BRYAN VC, 25th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers - For Arras 9 April 1917.

Copies are usually marked copy.

[Bardess]

Another fantastic example. Thanks Philip

[David Filsell]

I had never seen the obverse of a Victoria Cross - it seems strangely like that of an iron cross I thought.

[Stoppage Drill]

I had never seen the obverse of a Victoria Cross - it seems strangely like that of an iron cross I thought.

Reverse.

[ralphjd]

First time I have seen the reverse too. Interesting.

[Philip Wilson]

Here is another example 3156 Pte A.H.PROCTER 1/5 BN. LIVERPOOL REGT. T. F. - date of action 4 June 1916,near Ficheux, Pas de Calais, south west of Arras. See L.Gaz. 5 August 1916

[Guest exuser1]

Interestingly the engraving on each award the name obviously being unique but the engraving of rank and regiment ie the way it's inscribed are unique to that medal ie Private or Pte , the record of each medal and the exact wording inscribed on the medal is kept in a record book by the manufactures , I attended a OMRS showing of around 12 medals from the RA collection ,the curator stated that the manufactures were some what peeved that when VCs appear at auction the catalogue shows both sides of the medal ,which can allow the exact medal to be reproduced with the correct inscription as per the original.

[Bardess]

That's really interesting. Thanks.

[Guest exuser1]

It was a very interesting talk and a chance to hold 12 original VCs from Victorian to WW2 , it was a bit of a shock to hold one for the first time as they are quite light and look very ordinary ! In fact quite frightening is that some of the modern copies look better than the originals!

Which was the point made about the naming and that the copy book held by Hancocks was the only record on how each medal was named and a unique item , any one who gets a chance to get along to one of these events held by the Firepower Museum will not be disappointed.