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Average The Victoria Cross Quiz | 10 Questions | World

The Victoria Cross is the highest decoration awarded to members of the military of the United Kingdom, Commonwealth countries and former British Empire territories. The medal was created following the Crimean War (1853-56).

A multiple-choice quiz by Spontini. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Spontini

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
370,643

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
267

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The Victoria Cross takes precedence over all other honours in the UK except for one, with which it shares precedence. Which one is that? Hint

Conspicuous Gallantry Cross

George Cross

Order of the British Empire

Distinguished Service Order

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Question 2 of 10

2. The Crimean War (1853-56) involved Britain, France, the Ottoman Empire and Sardinia as an alliance against Russia. The source of the metal used to make Victoria Crosses was said to be from a Russian cannon captured at what battle in that conflict?. Hint

Battle of Balaclava

Siege of Kars

Battle of Inkerman

Siege of Sevastopol

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Question 3 of 10

3. The award of a Victoria Cross is quite rare. How many were awarded in the period from the end of the Second World War up until the end of the 20th century? Hint

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Question 4 of 10

4. In 2006, a single Victoria Cross, earned at the Battle of Gallipoli during the First World War, was auctioned in Sydney. It was the last Gallipoli VC still held in private hands and raised $AUS 1 million. Who was the Australian soldier who won it? Hint

Captain Alfred Shout

Sergeant Alfred Darwin

Private Alfred Nobel

Major Alfred Butler

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Question 5 of 10

5. In 1879, 150 British and other nationality troops successfully defended a small South-African mission station against 3000-4000 Zulu warriors during the Anglo-Zulu war. Eleven VCs were awarded to the defenders. What was the name of the mission station? Hint

Rorke's Drift

Isandlwana

North Transvaal Station number 4

Intombe

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Question 6 of 10

6. Up to the end of the twentieth century, how many recipients had won a second Victoria Cross? Hint

None

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Question 7 of 10

7. What colour is the ribbon attached to a Victoria Cross? Hint

Red

Yellow

Green

Orange

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Question 8 of 10

8. Recipients of a Victoria Cross (or George Cross) also receive a tax-free annuity which was raised to �1495 per year in 2002. How much was it originally (in 1856)? Hint

�50 per annum

�10 per annum

�100 per annum

�250 per annum

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Question 9 of 10

9. When the VC was first created, the power of forfeiture was included in the original warrant. This would be invoked if the recipient was involved in discreditable circumstances. Up to the end of the twentieth century, how many recipients had had their VCs taken away? Hint

None

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Question 10 of 10

10. The first Victoria Cross won by a woman was awarded before the year 2000.

True

False

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Victoria Cross takes precedence over all other honours in the UK except for one, with which it shares precedence. Which one is that?

Answer: George Cross

The George Cross is the highest gallantry award for civilians. It can be awarded to members of the military if the action concerned was not purely military and which also precluded a military decoration.

Answer: Siege of Sevastopol

Sevastopol was under siege for almost 12 months in 1854/5. The Russian Czar had based his Black Sea fleet there which threatened the whole of the Mediterranean. It was therefore very important to the British/French that they take the city. When it finally fell, it signalled the end of the war was approaching.

It is now thought that the metal used for making VCs came from a variety of sources.

3. The award of a Victoria Cross is quite rare. How many were awarded in the period from the end of the Second World War up until the end of the 20th century?

Answer: 11

Only 11 were awarded in the period 1946-1999. There were four awarded to Britons in Korea, one in the Malaysia-Indonesia confrontation and two in the Falklands War. Four were awarded to Australians in the Vietnam war. A further four have been won in the period 2000-2012, two in the Iraq war and two in the war in Afghanistan. Australia, New Zealand and Canada created their own versions of the Victoria Cross in 1991 and are not therefore included in my figures for the Victoria Cross itself since that time.

Answer: Captain Alfred Shout

Captain Shout and another officer charged an enemy position in a series of short hops by throwing bombs towards the enemy, gaining ground each time. He ignited several more bombs for another attack and charged the enemy yet again, but on this occasion, one of his bombs exploded before he could throw it and he was severely injured and died three days later.

Answer: Rorke's Drift

The 1964 film 'Zulu', starring Michael Caine and Stanley Baker, told the story of the Battle of Rorke's Drift. It happens to be one of my favourite films of all time.

6. Up to the end of the twentieth century, how many recipients had won a second Victoria Cross?

Answer: 3

It's hard enough to win one of these medals so to win another is going to be very rare. The three proud recipients of a second VC are Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse, Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Martin-Leake and Captain Charles Hazlitt Upham.

7. What colour is the ribbon attached to a Victoria Cross?

Answer: Red

When the Victoria Cross was first created, it was decreed that the ribbon would be red or blue depending whether the recipient was from the Army or the Navy. When the Royal Air Force was created, that presented a bit of a problem and it was ordered by King George V that all VCs would henceforth have a red ribbon and any living recipient of a 'blue' VC should exchange the ribbon for a red one.

8. Recipients of a Victoria Cross (or George Cross) also receive a tax-free annuity which was raised to �1495 per year in 2002. How much was it originally (in 1856)?

Answer: �10 per annum

The first VC was awarded in 1856 when �10 was worth quite a lot. Queen Victoria raised it to �50 in 1898 for those who were unable to support themselves by virtue of age or infirmity.

Answer: 8

The power of forfeiture still exists but has not been used since 1908. King George V made it quite plain in 1920 that he did not think it right that any man who has won a VC should lose it, no matter what he does in the future.

10. The first Victoria Cross won by a woman was awarded before the year 2000.

Answer: False

Prior to 2000, no woman has ever won a VC. In fact, at the time this question was created in 2014, we are still waiting for this to happen.

Source: Author Spontini

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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