page_title: George Cross
section_title: Collective awards
hierarchical_section_title: George Cross / Recipients / Collective awards
context_page_description: The George Cross is the second highest award of the United Kingdom honours system awarded "for acts of the greatest heroism or for most conspicuous courage in circumstance of extreme danger", not in the presence of the enemy, to members of the British armed forces and to British civilians. Posthumous awards have been allowed since it was instituted. It was previously awarded to residents of Commonwealth countries, most of which have since established their own honours systems and no longer recommend British honours. It may be awarded to a person of any military rank in any service and to civilians including police, emergency services and merchant seamen. Many of the awards have been personally presented by the British monarch to recipients or, in the case of posthumous awards, to next of kin. These investitures are usually held at Buckingham Palace.
context_section_description: The George Cross has been awarded to the island of Malta and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).
caption: The Flag of Malta displays its George Cross