Post; Are all VCs and similar medals deserved?

perseus · November 27th, 2006

Are all Victoria Crosses (and perhaps other medals) awarded fairly? Based on a programme on TV last night, I think not.

One case in point was the pilot William Leefe Robinson who was the first to shoot down an airship over Britain. Robinson’s guns were the first to be equipped with ammunition that exploded on impact. After attacking it, the airship burst into flames lighting up London so the event was witnessed by many people and he raised their spirits. This was the real reason behind the award. There is no record of him being injured or anything particularly brave in his actions. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Leefe_Robinson

Conversely, most heroic actions go relatively unnoticed and rarely change the course of a war, so perhaps there needs to be two classes of award, one for bravery during the action, and one for the effect of the action.

November 27th, 2006
perseus Centurion	Post; Are all VCs and similar medals deserved? Are all Victoria Crosses (and perhaps other medals) awarded fairly? Based on a programme on TV last night, I think not. One case in point was the pilot William Leefe Robinson who was the first to shoot down an airship over Britain. Robinson’s guns were the first to be equipped with ammunition that exploded on impact. After attacking it, the airship burst into flames lighting up London so the event was witnessed by many people and he raised their spirits. This was the real reason behind the award. There is no record of him being injured or anything particularly brave in his actions. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Leefe_Robinson Conversely, most heroic actions go relatively unnoticed and rarely change the course of a war, so perhaps there needs to be two classes of award, one for bravery during the action, and one for the effect of the action. __________________ Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country. Herman Goering