Precedent set by Queen Victoria
The June 1917 open-air investiture in Hyde Park was not the first of its kind because a similar event had been held there by Queen Victoria 40 years earlier with that investiture being on 26 June 1857. On that occasion, 62 Victoria Crosses were awarded personally by the Sovereign and pinned to the chests of the recipients. One man was absent from the Royal investiture, having been disciplined for theft by his commanding officer and barred from attending.
One of the VC heroes, Commander Henry Raby, RN, had a painful experience at the investiture as Queen Victoria also pinned the medal through his chest as she fastened the cross to his uniform. The Commander stood unflinching while the Queen fastened the pin through his flesh!
In total, 111 initial awards of the Victoria Cross were made at this time, with the remaining 48 being presented in the various theatres of operation where those men were then serving. At this period in the history of the Victoria Cross, awards could not be made posthumously.
The first announcement as to which Crimean War veterans would be awarded the Victoria Cross were made in the London Gazette on 24 February 1857. In this painting of the investiture, the colour and spectacle of the event has been captured splendidly by the artist.