AUSTRALIAN AWARDS
The Dartnell Cross
The Dartnell Cross is Australia’s highest award and is awarded for either Valour or Distinguished Conduct. The Dartnell Cross for Valour takes precedence over all Legion awards under the Australian Divisions Order of Precedence.
Named in memory of the Legion’s only VC recipient serving in a Legion unit at the time of award. Lieutenant Wilbur Dartnell who was an Australian serving the 25th Battalion (Frontiersmen) Royal Fusiliers, was killed while serving with the Battalion in East Africa during World War I on 3 September 1915. The award was posthumous. There have been many holders of the VC who are or were members of the Legion but were serving in non-Legion units at the time of their award.
The Australian Commandant, Brigadier Ted Rigby introduced this cross in 1978. Unlike the Pioneer Cross, the Dartnell Cross does not suspend from a bar, but suspends from a ring attached to the ribbon. The cross was first issued with the Pioneer Cross ribbon 35 mm wide and made up of 7 vertical bars of equal width of from left to right: red, dark blue, green, white, green, light blue and red. This interim measure was discontinued almost immediately and the current ribbon replaced the Pioneer Cross ribbon. No crosses were mounted with the original ribbon.
This cross has only been awarded seven times for valour, these recipients are:
A32031 Keith Payne, VC
A32063 Garry Cooper, DFC
A32110 Daphne Pearson, GC
A32246 Alan MacDonald of Sleat, RHC
A32509 Edward Kenna, VC
A32517 Jean Young, RHBM
A32518 Nancy Grace Augusta Wake, AC, GM
The original cross was manufactured by “The Taranaki Manufacturing Company” in Stratford New Zealand and the original miniature for this medal was designed by Lieutenant Robin Hale and produced by Lega Manufacturing in Melbourne. The current cross and miniature is manufactured by Tasmedals, Australia after undergoing a refining of the design in 1999 by Colonel (LF) Robin Hale and Lieutenant Colonel (LF) David Alexander-Fleming and the project was funded by donations from Lieutenant Colonel (LF) Bruce Hulley, Lieutenant Colonel (LF) Athol Egeberg and Major (LF) Oliver Baron von Buxhoeveden.
Toye, Kenning & Spencer in the United Kingdom manufacture the ribbon.
A silver Cross Pattee 36 mm wide bearing in the centre the central motif of the Legion Badge surrounded by a laurel wreath. The reverse is unmarked. When awarded for valour a silver 'V' device is affixed centrally to the ribbon and ribbon bar. The name, number and rank of the recipient are impressed on the reverse of the cross.
The ribbon is a 36 mm wide, maroon with two central light green stripes 7 mm wide placed 6 mm apart.
The post nominal DC is used in conjunction with this medal. The post nominal DCV is used when awarded for valour. A bar to the cross in denoted by DC*.
