Victoria Cross Grove
The Victoria Cross Grove
commemorates ten recipients of the Victoria Cross who had
connections with the borough of Tunbridge Wells. The grove of 21
oak trees was planted during the winter of 1994/5 and dedicated on
the 50th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day, 8 May 1995.
The year 2006 marked the 400th anniversary of Royal
Tunbridge Wells and the 150th anniversary of the Victoria Cross. To
commemorate the two anniversaries, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
specially commissioned Andrew Motion, Poet Laureate, to write a
poem, and artist Charles Gurrey to create a memorial sculpture.
Extracts from Andrew Motion’s poem, Remembrance, feature on the
sculpture.
The Victoria Cross was instituted by Queen Victoria on 29
January 1856 as a way of recognising acts of outstanding bravery by
members of the armed services. Over time, the award has been
extended to include other service personnel, including members of
the Commonwealth forces.
Unlike some military awards, the Victoria Cross has always been
open to all ranks. When awards are considered ‘neither rank, nor
long service, nor wounds, nor any other circumstance or condition
whatsoever, save the merit of conspicuous bravery’ are taken into
account.
Queen Victoria chose the design for the award and approved
the wording ‘for valour’ on the front of the medal, beneath the
royal crest. The Victoria Cross medals are made of bronze and are
still cast from the metal melted down from cannons captured at
Sebastopol during the Crimean War. The Victoria Cross takes
precedence over all other Orders and medals.
Victoria Cross
Grove leaflet PDF File
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