Historical military books on Victoria Cross Awards during World War Two including aviation and naval Victoria Cross awards and awards of the Victoria Cross during World War One and the Boer War.

Book serial number BK6. Price £29.95

Post: UK- £6.00 (max post for multiple books £6.00).

For Europe £7.00 (each plus one charge of £3.00 recorded fee per total shipment)

Rest of World £8.00 (each plus one charge of £3.00 recorded fee per total shipment)

For Valour, the Air VCs by Chaz Bowyer

Since its inception in 1856, the Victoria Cross, which takes precedence over all other awards, decorations and honours within the British Commonwealth - has been awarded on 1,350 occasions. Of these just 51 have been conferred on airmen. Here, for the first time, are the complete and accurate biographies of each of those men.

Though primarily regarded as a British honour, of those 51 airmen, 16 were not British born; coming from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Eire willingly to pledge their lives in Britain's cause during the two major world wars of this century. Courage and sacrifice have no succinct class, race or creed; and the award of a Victoria Cross has always exemplified that completely democratic ideal, whereby neither rank, position, privilege of birth, or any other form of 'influence' has any bearing on eligibility. The sole criterion for conferment of the little bronze cross has always been unadulterated valour.

That a mere 51 men received the cross, from several millions of airmen to see service during the past 64 years is perhaps an indication of the rarity, and therefore illustrates the exclusiveness of that gallant company. Of these, 25 lost their lives as a direct result of the deeds which brought them the supreme honour; while six others were subsequently killed in action. Of the remainder - at this time - only five are still living.

Book serial number BK5. Book price £25

Post: UK- £6.00 (max post for multiple books £6.00).

For Europe £8.00 (each plus one charge of £3.00 recorded fee per total shipment)

Rest of World £10.00 (each plus one charge of £3.00 recorded fee per total shipment)

British VCs of World War 2, A Study of Heroism by John Laffin

No other military decoration in the world has the prestige of the Victoria Cross and none is harder to win. It is a remarkable paradox that the bronze VC is the plainest of all British decorations and intrinsically the cheapest - at one time the bronze in a VC was worth a threepence - yet among servicemen it is the most highly prized.

During the Second World War 106 members of the British armed forces were awarded VCs. In order of service: Royal Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve - 23; the Army - 61; the Royal Air Force - 22. The names of many and the actions in which they won their award became the talk of the nation: Captain Bernard Warburton-Lee RN at the Battle of Narvik, Wing Commander Guy Gibson the Dambuster, and Warrant Officer Peter Wright of the Coldstream Guards, whose DCM was converted to a VC on the 'suggestion' of King George VI. It is significant that almost half of these 106 awards were made posthumously. Put another way, during the Second World War the chances of performing an act of courage considered worthy of a VC and of living to receive it were 50:50.

In British VCs of World War 2 John Laffin looks at each gallant deed that led to the award of a VC in the context of the war and the land, sea or air campaign in which it was won. In what way did any particular exploit affect the outcome of a larger action? Was it more difficult to win a VC in a jungle campaign than in a desert? What made the award of a VC for a submarine or aerial action different from those earned on the ground or at sea - for assuredly they were different. The author answers all of these questions and others besides.

British VCs of World War 2 is fully illustrated and includes complete transcripts from the original citations which led to the award of the world's most revered gallantry decoration.