THE VICTORIA CROSS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 505, 5 September 1857, Page 3

THE VICTORIA CROSS.

The " Medical Times" and " Gazette," commenting on the fact that no medical officer has received this decoration, says :— "One surgeon went out of the advanced trench before the Redan, and carried in the body of the Colonel of the 3rd Buffs, under a tremendous fire. Another assisted wounded officers of the Light CavalryBrigade at Balaklava, far in "front of the advanced picquets of the French Chasseurs, and at the most imminent personal risk. A third saved the life of the Duke of Cambridge at Inkermann, in a hand to haYid conflict. A fourth assisted Captain Cust, at the Alma, when severely wounded in the very thickest of the fight. And these were no isolated examples. No danger kept back the medical officers from the performance of their dutyj; and, surely, to say the very least, there was as much valour shown in assisting a wounded man under a heavy fire as in joining in the conflict. .One reason we have heard assigned for not giving the cross to medical off cers is remarkable, and we mayadd that it was given us by a gentleman in a high official position. "It is not considered advisable to encourage medical officers to distinguish themselves for valour. They are quite ready enough as it is to volunteer for dangerous duty, and if we were to reward them as we do others, they would all be killed, and we should have no doctors left for the troops.' " This may be complimentary, but it is not encouraging.