Lieutenant Commander Gerard Broadmead Roope was a posthumous British recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Gerard Broadmead Roope
HMS Glowworm on fire after battling Admiral Hipper, 8 April 1940
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously awarded by countries of the Commonwealth of Nations, most of which have 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 under military command. No civilian has received the award since 1879. Since the first awards were presented by Queen Victoria in 1857, two thirds of all awards have been personally presented by the British monarch. The investitures are usually held at Buckingham Palace.
Obverse of the cross; ribbon: 1+1⁄2 inches (38 mm), crimson (blue ribbon for naval awards 1856–1918)
The front and back of Edward Holland's VC
The obverse of William Johnstone's VC showing the dark blue ribbon for pre-1918 awards to naval personnel
Victoria Cross as it appears on Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstones.