CROSS OF VALOUR
(Arisition Andrias)
Instituted on 13 May 1913, the Cross
of Valour initially ranked as an order and was the highest war decoration.
It ceased after the disastrous war against Turkey in 1922. Re-established
on 11 November 1940 immediately after the out break of hostilities with
Italy, it ceased to rank as an order but retained it position as the
highest war decoration, it was awarded only for acts of bravery on the
field of battle. The 1940 issue was distinguished by the addition of a
bronze bar bearing the date '1940' to the riband and was awarded in 3
classes: Commander's Cross (Badge on necklet), Gold Cross (Badge on chest
riband), and Silver Cross (Badge on chest riband).
The badge of the Cross of Valour is a golden straight armed cross with a longer lower arm in white enamel, edged blue and suspended by a golden royal crown. The obverse portrays the mounted figure of St. George slaying the dragon surrounded by a laurel wreath. Th reverse bears the Greek inscription signifying 'for merit'. The Silver Cross is not enamelled. The riband is white with evenly sized centre and edge stripes of plain blue. The 1913 issue Commanders Cross is shown at left in the photo by Panos N. Tazedakis. (Romanoff, 1987)
GOLD CROSS OF VALOUR
4006 Major General Sir Bernard Cyril FREYBERG VC
For assisting 3 Greek Mountain Brigade in training and during the
battles of Rimini, Bellaria and Rubicone in Italy 1944, as General
Officer Commanding 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Later
General, The Lord Freyberg VC GCMG KCB KBE DSO and 3 Bars K St J,1
st Baron Freyberg of Wellington in New Zealand and Munstead in the
County of Surrey, Governor General of New Zealand and Deputy Constable
and Lieutenant Governor of Windsor Castle.
[Ribbon
Set]
1523 Major General Cyril Ettick WEIR
For assisting 3 Greek Mountain Brigade in training and during the battles of
Rimini, Bellaria and Rubicone in Italy 1944, as General Officer Commanding
2 New Zealand Division. Later Major General Weir KBE CB DSO and Bar, New
Zealand Chief of General Staff 1955 to 1960.
7146 Brigadier James Thomas BURROWS
For assisting 3 Greek Mountain Brigade in training and during the
battles of Rimini, Bellaria and Rubicone in Italy 1944, as Commander 5 New
Zealand Brigade. Later Brigadier Burrows CBE DSO and Bar ED, Commander K
Force 1953. Previously played for the New Zealand All Blacks during their
tour of South Africa in 1928.
[Medal Group]
[Autobiography]
20001 Brigadier Raymond Candlish QUEREE
For assisting 3 Greek Mountain Brigade in training and during the
battles of Rimini, Bellaria and Rubicone in Italy 1944, as Commander Royal
Artillery 2 New Zealand Division. Later Brigadier Queree CBE DSO, Aide de
camp to Her Majesty the Queen 1955 and Director Civil Defence 1965 to
1970.
20010 Colonel Sir Leonard Whitmore THORNTON
For assisting 3 Greek Mountain Brigade in training and during the
battles of Rimini, Bellaria and Rubicone in Italy 1944, as General Staff
Officer New Zealand Division. Later Major General Sir Leonard Thornton,
New Zealand Chief of General Staff.
26502 Lieutenant Colonel Edgar W. AKED
Commanding Officer 210 British Liaison Unit with 3 Greek Mountain
Brigade in Italy and Greece 1944 to 1945. Previously Lieutenant Colonel
Aked MC Mid, Commanding Officer 24 Battalion June 1944. Later Lieutenant Colonel Aked MC ED Mid, Commanding Officer Hauraki Regiment 1948 to 1955.
[Miniature Medal Set]
13086 Major Angus ROSS
For assisting 3 Greek
Mountain Brigade in training and during the battles of Rimini, Bellaria and
Rubicone in Italy 1944, as Brigade Major 5 New Zealand Brigade. Later
Lieutenant Colonel Ross MC and Bar ED Mid Commanding Officer
1st Battalion Otago and Southland Regiment 1951 to 1954, then
Professor Angus Ross OBE MC and Bar ED Mid, Emeritus Professor of History,
University of Otago 1977.