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The George Cross (Malta)

by Mello Luchtenberg

by António Martins, based on this picture of an actual flag

The George Cross
Discussion on yellow fimbriation

See also:

Specifications and Construction Sheet (Malta)
Malta

Other sites:

A photograph of a George Cross medal at the Canadian Government's Canada's Digital Collections website

The George Cross

This decoration was awarded on the 15th April 1942 by King George VI to the people of Malta to 'bear witness to the heroism and devotion of its people' during the great siege it underwent in the early parts of World War Two.
Mark Sensen, 7 November 1995

Some details on the Malta George Cross from the Malta Government Official Website:

While Italian and German bombers brought havoc to the Maltese islands, which were at first defended notably by three Gladiators named 'Hope', 'Faith' and 'Charity', the problem of supplies was soon felt. An invasion threat in July 1941 ended in complete failure when coast defenders spotted E-boats of the [Italian] Decima Flottiglia [10th Fleet] Mas. Whilst people suffered hunger, a final assault was ordered by [German Field Marshal] Kesselring. But the people's heroism withstood every attack. On the 15th April 1942 King George VI awarded the 'George Cross' to the people of Malta in appreciation of their heroism.

Dov Gutterman, 8 April 1999

The Maltese Government introduced a system of honours, decorations and awards by Act XXIX of 1975. This was amended by Act XIV of 1990 which made provision for the production of National Commemorative Medals, and laid down certain limits on the number of times such medals might be struck in any period of ten years and the anniversaries that might be commemorated. The first was issued in 1992 to all those connected with the siege and supply of Malta and also to those who participated in attacks on the enemy from Malta. Source: Strickland 1992 [str92].
David Prothero, 9 April 1999

My only objection to the above George Cross image is that it shows a rather different monogram on the four central corners to that depicted in Album des Pavillons 2000 [pay00]. The latter shows an elongated, sans-serif 'G' embracing the Roman numeral 'VI', the George Cross being named after King George VI — so it has nothing to do with the St. George cross. There is a large photograph of an actual George Cross medal at the Canadian Government's Canada's Digital Collections website, according to which:

Awarded for acts of gallantry not necessarily in the face of the enemy, the George Cross (GC) is equal in merit to the Victoria Cross, though the latter is the senior decoration in the order of precedence. It may be awarded during peacetime to the military or civilians. Holders of the Empire Gallantry Medal at the time of the George Cross's inception (24th September 1940) had the medal exchanged for the GC. Living holders of the Albert Medal have also had their medals exchanged for the GC. The obverse is inscribed simply, For Gallantry.

Santiago Dotor, 5 February 2001

The George Cross illustrated in Spink's Standard Catalogue of British (and Associated) Orders Decorations and Medals, A.R. Litherland and B.T. Simpkin., Spink & Son Ltd, London 1990, page 48, is the same as the one shown in Malta Government's official publication Instructions on the Use of Flags. There are some differences between them and the one in António Martins illustration:

Principally, there are no horizontal shading marks in the background of the central medallion.
The motif at the lower centre of the inscribed ring around the St. George and the dragon, appears to be a five-petalled rose.
The arms of the cross have two levels, a higher level in the centre and a narrow lower level along the outer edges.

Additionally in the Instructions on the Use of Flags, the red fimbriation is much narrower.
Adrian Strickland, 5 February 2001

The George Cross was a decoration, second only to the Victoria Cross, instituted by George VI on 24 September 1940, replacing the Empire Gallantry Medal. Intended primarily for civilians. Awards to fighting services confined to actions for which purely military honours are not normally given. Awarded only for acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger. Has been awarded collectively only to Malta and the Royal Ulster Constabulary.
David Prothero, 5 June 2002

From the George Cross Database (quoting from Royal Warrant of 24 September 1940 - "George R.I.", by the way):

Secondly: It is ordained that the Decoration shall consist of a plain cross with four equal limbs, the cross having in the centre a circular medallion bearing a design showing St. George and the Dragon, that the inscription "For Gallantry" shall appear round this medallion, and in the angle of each limb of the cross the Royal cypher "G.VI" forming a circle concentric with the medallion..."

Found at: http://www.gc-database.co.uk/decoration.htm with image of obverse at http://www.gc-database.co.uk/images/GC36.jpg.
Jan Mertens, 22 August 2007

At http://www.confluence.org/photo.php?visitid=8136&pic=ALL (second last image) part of an interesting project, shows the monogram in a much more readable version. Also, as this shows the reverse of the flag, it demonstrates that the GC is in obverse on both sides.

The image of the actual George Cross is now on http://www.veterans.gc.ca/content/collections/cmdp/images/gc-l.gif. Since the image can is free for non-commercial use, under attribution conditions, we display it here. Looking at the picture of a real George Cross, I'd would explain a yellow fimbriation along the straight edges as the double edge of the Geneva Cross. Where the monogram is concerned, I'm tempted to say that this picture shows differently-styled monograms in different corners. Then again, the picture on http://www.operations.mod.uk/honours/honours.htm clearly does show four times the same monogram.

I find the George Cross on the page at http://maltapagina.nl/vlag.html, has a Georgius Rex monogram. This suggests itself as a George Cross from the time when George VI was king. Before 1947 however, and this is the era in which Malta was awarded the honour, George VI was also Emperor of India, and hence he used a GRI monogram: Georgius Rex Imperator. So, not having seen the actual cross, I can well imagine that the curious inner corners of the Cross on a proper Malta flag should display the GRI monogram of George VI.
Peter Hans van den Muijzenberg, 22 August 2007

Discussion on yellow fimbriation

The Danish edition of Dorling Kindersley 1997 [udk97] has a yellow fimbriation to the George Cross. It is only on the straight edges (not around the cyphers), so I guess it is rather a detail of the cross than a fimbriation.
Ole Andersen, 13 May 2001

In mid-September 2000 there was a picture of this part of the flag posted on the rec.heraldry list. There is no sign of anything yellow on that picture.
Elias Granqvist, 13 May 2001

The images currently in FOTW are based on the online version of a Maltese Government booklet (Instructions on the Use of Flags, Department of Information, 1992) and on information extracted by Maltese vexillologist Adrian Strickland from an actual copy of the book.
Santiago Dotor, 14 May 2001

Since it does not go all the way around the cross, but only on the straight edges, it does not really fit the term fimbriation. By the way, the Maltese Government webpage does not have a textual description of the George Cross, except in saying a representation of the George Cross, edged with red. This seems to imply proper, but which colour is an actual George Cross - does it have gilt edges, perhaps? The George Cross in the jack and air force roundel is, by the way, described as proper.
Ole Andersen, 14 May 2001