Letter - Rules for Postnominal Letters and Order of Wear for the Victoria Cross and the George Cross [1954-12-15]

Letter - Rules for Postnominal Letters and Order of Wear for the Victoria Cross and the George Cross [1954-12-15]

Honors

Victoria Cross

George Cross

Letter from Sir Michael Adeane to the Duke of Norfolk setting out Queen Elizabeth II's commands regarding the precedence accorded to the postnominal letters associated with the Victoria Cross and the George Cross as well as the order of wearing those decorations.

Sir Michael Adeane (Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II)

College of Arms I82/47

1954-12-15

Mark Scott

Buckingham Palace, 15 December 1954

Dear Earl Marshal,

I have now laid before The Queen the matter of the correct order of post-nominal contractions, which has been the subject of correspondence between Garter and Ford. In particular, The Queen has seen the letter from Sir Frederick Ponsonby to the War Office dated 28^th February, 1912 (of which I enclose a copy) and endorses the ruling there given by her grandfather King George V, with regard to the precedence to be accorded to the letters V.C. when used in juxtaposition with other abbreviations of Orders and Decorations. Her Majesty wishes this precedence to be accorded to the letters V.C. on all occasions where such abbreviations are used, whether civilian or military, and whatever the nature of the ceremonial. Similarly the letters G.C., while taking second place to the V.C. should precede all other post-nominal contractions. With regard to the wearing of Orders, Decorations and Medals, the Sovereign from time to time approves the order in which Decorations should be worn, and this is published in the London Gazette. The Victoria Cross takes precedence before all others and the George Cross comes second. Whenever this list is published, it is always stated that ‘it in no way affects the precedence conferred by the Statutes of certain Orders upon the Members thereof’. I would be grateful if you could inform the College of Arms of Her Majesty’s commands in this matter.

Yours sincerely,

M.E. Adeane

Sir Michael Adeane (Private Secretary to Queen Elizabeth II)

Duke of Norfolk (Earl Marshal)

This is a transcript taken from the records of the College of Arms and may not reflect the formatting of the original.