The First Victoria Cross Richard Cavendish recounts the history of the British medal for bravery in combat, first awarded on June 21st, 1854. Richard Cavendish | Published in History Today Volume 54 Issue 6 June 2004 To continue reading this article you will need to purchase access to the online archive. Buy Online Access Buy Print & Archive Subscription If you have already purchased access, or are a print & archive subscriber, please ensure you are logged in. Please email digital@historytoday.com if you have any problems.