'Missis Victorier's Sons': A history of the Victoria Cross and the evolution of the British concept of heroism

The concept of heroism is as old as humanity itself, yet remains a topic relatively untouched by even military historians. This study examines the evolution of that concept in one military tradition, using the British Victoria Cross as a standard of valor over a cross-section of time. The study encompasses all winners of the Cross from its inception in 1856 to the most recently bestowed awards in 1982, spanning the transition from an essentially pre-industrial military establishment to the modern incarnation of the British Army.;The existing pre-Cross societal model of the heroic ideal is established, followed by an analysis of the political events leading to the creation of the award and the formal of heroism. Actions winning the Cross are quantified and categorized. These actions are subjected to statistical analysis to establish trends, changes and aberrations in the types of deeds deemed heroic. Further primary resource research is used to explain the changes in the concept of heroism that occurred.;The pre-industrial conception of heroism remained valid until the second and third years of the First World War. This model had room for recognizing acts of compassion, such as rescuing the wounded or self-sacrifice to protect the lives of others; in some decades this style of heroism actually surpassed awards given for taking the war to the enemy. During the tenure of Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig as supreme commander on the Western Front the British High Command redefined what classified as Victoria Cross caliber heroism, demanding an escalating level of aggressiveness and ruthlessness in order to earn the highest accolades of heroism. Haig also pioneered using the Victoria Cross as a political and doctrinal tool, granting Crosses more freely for actions that confirmed his strategic vision and protected his political position.;The new paradigm of heroism established on the Western Front during the First World War was institutionalized at the end of the war as the official guidelines for selecting the bravest of the brave. The pattern established under Haig has thus far remained the standard by which British military heroism is measured, and incidents In the Second World War and beyond suggest that the use of the Cross for political or doctrinal purposes has also become accepted.