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The George Cross, the highest civilian decoration, is awarded for acts of the greatest heroism or of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme danger, and all the recipients of this exceptional honor are recorded here. As a complete chronological record of George Crosses awarded in Britain and around the world, this book is an essential work of reference for anyone who is interested in the history of the medal and in the acts of bravery and self-sacrifice it commemorates.
When William Barker died in an air crash in March 1930, his state funeral was the largest in the history of Toronto. The cortege was two miles long, with 2000 uniformed men as escort and 50,000 spectators looking on. He was, after all, a magnificent airman, a great war hero and holder of the Victoria Cross, the DSO and Bar, the MC and two Italian Silver Medals for Valour and three Mentions-in-Despatches. Moreover, he had 50 Great War victories in the air to his credit. But his life and achievements have, to all intents and purposes, been forgotten or at best overlooked when compared to that other great Canadian war hero, Billy Bishop. Why? Wayne Ralph made it his mission to find out. In what was to become for him "a five-year emotional journey," Ralph has solved many mysteries and laid to rest many half-truths about the man. His book is detailed, meticulously researched and excellently crafted. It holds the interest from beginning to end and deserves to be viewed as the definitive biography of Lieutenant Colonel William Barker; warts and all, and a fitting testimony to the life and time of a legend.
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"Early in the Second World War, King George VI was deeply impressed by the heroic deeds of servicemen out of the front line and civilian non-combatants in acts connected with the war such as bomb disposal and rescues after air raids. So, in September 1940, the king instituted the George Cross 'For Gallantry' to be awarded to civilians and servicemen and women away from the battlefield. ..."--Back cover.
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Secret Victory is captivating and disturbing in equal measure. It reveal's how the IRA was infiltrated, degraded and strategically defeated - at times with violent and deadly consequences. To read this book is to understand how intelligence drives irregular conflicts.