_British War Medals._—In Great Britain there are three orders which may be bestowed upon officers by the King—the Order of the Bath, the Order of St. Michael and St. George and the Distinguished Service Order; five crosses or medals which may be awarded to officers or enlisted men of the land forces—the Victoria Cross, the Military Cross, the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the Military Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal; and four crosses or medals which may be bestowed upon officers and enlisted men of the sea forces—the Victoria Cross, the Distinguished Service Cross (corresponding to the Military Cross), the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (corresponding to the Distinguished Conduct Medal), and the Distinguished Service Medal (corresponding to the Military Medal). Of all of these the one most highly prized by officers and enlisted men alike both on sea and land is the Victoria Cross, which is awarded individually to an officer or enlisted man of the Navy or Army for some signal act of valor and devotion to his country in the presence of the enemy and during action. Whenever it is possible to do so the V. C. is presented in person by the sovereign. _The Victoria Cross._—This decoration consists of a bronze cross pattée with raised edges and it was instituted by Queen Victoria in 1856 during the Crimean War. On the obverse of the cross at the center it is surcharged with a Royal crown surmounted by a lion passant gardant and below the crown there is a semicircular scroll bearing the words, “For Valour.” On the reverse side is engraved the date of its bestowal. The cross is suspended from a ribbon by means of a bar clasp ornamented with laurel leaves and a link in the shape of the letter “V,” and the name, rank and regiment or ship of the recipient is engraved on the reverse side of the clasp. The ribbon is red for the Army and blue for the Navy. _The Distinguished Service Order._—This order was established in 1886 to reward officers of the military and naval services for meritorious or distinguished service in the field before the enemy. It is a gold cross pattée convexed, enamelled white and edged with bright gold. At the center on one side is a wreath of laurel enamelled in green surrounding the Imperial crown enamelled in red, and on the other side at the center a similar wreath surrounding the Royal cypher “G.R.” The ribbon is red edged with blue. _The Distinguished Service Cross._—This is a plain silver cross pattée convexed. On the obverse at the center enclosed within a raised circle is the Imperial cypher “G.R.I.” surmounted by the crown, while the reverse side is plain. The ribbon is blue, white, blue. [Illustration: _Copyright, Bailey, Banks & Biddle Co., Phila., Pa._ FOREIGN DECORATIONS AND MEDALS 1. Victoria Cross, Great Britain 2. Distinguished Service Order, Great Britain 3. Legion of Honor, France 4. Military Medal, France] [Illustration: Croix de Guerre (War Cross), France]