In 1856 Queen Victoria signed a royal warrant instituting the Victoria Cross.  
Prior to this, there existed a lack of appropriate recognition for valour and

gallantry in the field.

The preamble to the warrant explained the need for such a decoration and that it

would become the grand leveller of distinction and class amongst her soldiers in

recognising acts of valour.  
The warrant allowed for the Victoria Cross to be issued retrospective to 1853

so as to include the many acts of gallantry during the Crimean War.  

Amongst it's 15 rules and ordinances it stated:  
" that the cross would only be awarded to those officers and men who have sewed us in the presence of the enemy and shall then have performed some single act of valour or devotion to their country" and "that neither rank nor long service nor wounds nor any other circumstance or condition whatsoever save the merit of conspicuous bravery shall be held to establish a sufficient claim for the honour.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The first investiture was held in Hyde Park in 1857 where Queen Victoria herself presented 62 medals in front of a crowd of 100,000.  The first act of heroism to be awarded the Victoria Cross was by Charles Davis Lucas of the Royal Navy in 1854.