Royal Red Cross

Royal Red Cross
Medal and ribbon
Awarded by United Kingdom
Type	Military decoration
Eligibility	Members of the Military Nursing Service
Awarded for	exceptional services in military nursing
Post-nominals	RRC ARRC
Statistics
Established	27 April 1883
Order of Wear
Next (higher)	Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (RRC) Air Force Cross (ARRC)[1]
Next (lower)	Distinguished Service Cross (RRC)[1] Order of Saint John (ARRC)[2]

The Royal Red Cross is a military decoration awarded in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for exceptional services in military nursing.

Foundation

The award was established on 27 April 1883 by Queen Victoria, with a single class of Member. A second and lower class, Associate, was added during World War I in 1917.

The award is made to a fully trained nurse of an officially recognised nursing service, military or civilian, who has shown exceptional devotion and competence in the performance of actual nursing duties, over a continuous and long period, or who has performed some very exceptional act of bravery and devotion at his or her post of duty. This decoration had the distinction of being conferred exclusively to females until 1976. It is conferred on members of the nursing services regardless of rank. Holders of the second class who receive a further award are promoted to the first class, although an initial award can also be made in the first class. Holders of the first class who receive a further award are awarded a bar.

Recipients of the Royal Red Cross are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "RRC" or "ARRC" for Members and Associates respectively.

Description

• The badge for RRC is in the shape of a golden cross, 1.375 inches wide, the obverse enamelled red, with a circular medallion (now bearing an effigy of the reigning monarch) at its centre. The words "Faith", "Hope" and "Charity" are inscribed on the upper limbs of the cross, with the year "1883" in the lower limb. The reverse is plain except a circular medallion bearing the Royal Cypher of the reigning monarch.
• The badge for ARRC is in the shape of a silver cross, 1.375 inches wide, the obverse enamelled red, with broad silver edges around the enamel; a circular medallion (now bearing an effigy of the reigning monarch) at its centre. The reverse has a circular medallion bearing the Royal Cypher of the reigning monarch, as well as the words "Faith", "Hope" and "Charity" inscribed on the upper limbs of the cross, with the year "1883" in the lower limb.
• The ribbon for both grades is dark blue with crimson edge stripes.
• To recognize further exceptional devotion and competency in the performance of actual nursing duties or some very exceptional act of bravery and devotion at his or her post of duty, a bar may be awarded to a recipient of the RRC. The bar is linked to the cross and is made of red enamel. A rosette is worn on the ribbon in undress to denote a bar to the RRC.

See also

• Category:Members of the Royal Red Cross
• British and Commonwealth orders and decorations

References

1. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 56878. p. 3351. 17 March 2003.
2. "JSP 761 Honours and Awards in the Armed Forces" (PDF). p. 12A-1. Retrieved 7 November 2014.

External links

• Search recommendations for the Royal Red Cross on The UK National Archives' website.
• Royal Red Cross Medal
• Manufacturer of The Royal Red Cross