Bronze Cascabels – Bronze Crosses

The Victoria Cross and Great War pair of William Johnstone Milne, 16th Battalion.

The Victoria Cross and Great War pair of William Johnstone Milne, 16th Battalion C.E.F. (The Canadian Scottish).

THE LEGENDARY VICTORIA CROSS

The Bronze

Much has been written on the origins and history of the Victoria Cross (VC) instituted in 1856. For the award’s 150th anniversary (2006) historian and author John Glanfield included in his book, The Bravest of the Brave. The Story of the Victoria Cross an investigation into the story that all Victoria Crosses have been made from the bronze of two Chinese cannons, used by the Russian Army during the Crimea War, and captured by the British at Sebastopol.

Mr. Glanfield’s  research has led him to conclude that the bronze of the Chinese cannons, now exhibited at the Royal Artillery Museum, Woolwich, England, has only been used to produce the VC since December 1914. Mr. Glanfield also discovered that the bronze ingot used for VC production went missing for three years during the Second World War and that another source of bronze had to found to produce the prestigious decoration. Glanfield’s research further calls into question whether the two Chinese guns were even captured at Sebastopol! A great reminder for historians to continually dig at commonly held beliefs.

In a 2005 Daily Telegraph interview Glanfield stated, “There was an accepted legend and no one had researched whether it was true. When something has been the belief for 150 years it becomes accepted as truth…,The truth has become fogged by time, myth and misinformation. Part of the myth is that every cross has been cast from the two [Woolwich] cannon.” (Daily Telegraph, December 28, 2005).

Cascabels

One of the Chinese cannons at the Royal Artillery Museum.

One of the Chinese cannons at the Royal Artillery Museum.

A visit to Firepower, the museum of the Royal Artillery in Woolwich, England allows the visitor to get quite close to the two famed muzzle-loading cannons that supplied the bronze for the production of the VC. The bronze being taken from the cannon’s cascabels, the round devices at the back of the cannon on which arresting ropes were secured to deal with the gun’s recoil when fired. In removing the two cascabels it is estimated that 224 lbs. of bronze was acquired, enough to produce, since December 1914, 810 crosses, not including the Budd VC of 2006 and the Ashworth VC of 2013.

The back of the cannon where the bronze cascabel was located.

The back of the cannon where the bronze cascabel was located.

The bronze ingot produced from the cascabels is highly prized and kept in a vault belonging to the Royal Logistic Corps of the British Army. In December 2005 it was estimated that there was enough bronze to produce a further 85 awards. Through the process of creating a Victoria Cross there is some wastage of bronze material.

Visit Firepower, the Royal Artillery Museum, Woolwich, England.

Hancocks the Jeweller

Alec Forbes of Hancocks moulding his 751st V.C. Date unknown. From "The Bronze Cross" page, 6.

Alec Forbes of Hancocks moulding his 751st V.C. Date unknown. From The Bronze Cross page, 6.

Each award, since 1856, has been produced by Hancocks of London, England (established 1849). In March 1856, Hancocks was authorized, by the British government to produce 106 crosses. The cross itself is cast, not die-struck, and is hand finished and chased. Once detailed the cross is further finished again with bronze. Details of the recipients are engraved on the reverse of the suspender usually with rank, name and unit and the date of the deed engraved within the circlet on the reverse of the cross. For the 150th anniversary Hancocks produced a limited edition, 1,357 in number, specimen VCs which are available for purchase by the general public. Visit the following Hancock website pages for further information:

Limited Edition Replica VCs at Hancocks – London

History of Hancock’s and the Victoria Cross

Hancock’s Company History

Myth, Legend and Truth

Despite my constant yearning for historical accuracy one realizes that some things become what they become. Repeated over the course of time, they seemingly become what we yearn for, and what we want to believe.  It makes the legend more legendary. Even through gathering some data for today’s blog sifting through myth, legend, and truth I cannot help but wander to a famed film from 1962, John Ford’s The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, starring Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne, where truth and legend meet head on.


About The Author

pferguson
Paul has worked with the Paradigm Motion Picture Company since 2009 as producer, historian and research specialist. Paul first met Casey and Ian WIlliams of Paradigm in April 2007 at Ieper (Ypres), Belgium when ceremonies were being held for the re-dedication of the Vimy Memorial, France. Paul's sensitivity to film was developed at an early age seeing his first films at RCAF Zweibrucken, Germany and in Sardinia. Paul returned to Canada in 1967 and was further amazed by David Lean's "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Bridge on the River Kwai". Film captivated Paul and with time he became increasingly interested in storytelling, content development, character, direction, cinematography and soundtracks. At the University of Victoria, Paul studied and compared Japanese and Australian film and became interested in Australian film maker Peter Weir and his film "Gallipoli" (1981). Paul was entranced when he learned Weir had visited the beaches, ridges and ravines of the peninsula. The film "Gallipoli" alone led Paul on many journeys to sites of conflict in England, France, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Malta, Hawaii, Gallipoli and Salonika. It was, however, when Paul watched documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, "The Civil War", that Paul understood how his own experience and insight could be effective and perhaps influential in film-making. Combining his knowledge of Museums and Archives, exhibitions and idea strategies with his film interests would be a natural progression. Paul thinks like a film-maker. His passion for history and storytelling brings to Paradigm an eye (and ear) to the keen and sensitive interests of; content development, the understanding of successful and relational use of collections, imagery and voice. Like Paul's favorite actor, Peter O'Toole, he believes in the adage “To deepen not broaden.” While on this path Paul always remembers his grandmother whose father did not return from the Great War and how his loss shaped her life and how her experience continues to guide him.

Comments

One Response to “Bronze Cascabels – Bronze Crosses”

  1. pferguson pferguson says:

    Live link to Visit Firepower, the Royal Artillery [RA] Museum, Woolwich, England now redirects to new Royal Artillery Museum Website.

    The RA’s Firepower Museum in no longer at Woolwich. The Royal Artillery is creating a new home for its internationally-renowned museum collection in a major visitor attraction on Salisbury Plain.

    Hancock’s links updated (similar content) as their website has been updated.

    Tags updated.

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