For a nation with a long and proud military tradition, one token stands above all the others as a mark of recognition for the ultimate acts of individual feats of arms: the Victoria Cross. Awarded for one reason alone - to mark extreme acts of great heroism by British and Commonwealth servicemen in the face of the enemy - it is unquestionably the hardest club in the world to gain entrance to. Its holders, ordinary soldiers, sailors and airmen, are linked by an uncommon bond of exceptional bravery displayed often at great personal risk and against impossible odds. The VC has been awarded only sixteen times since the end of the Second World War in 1945. Some of these awards were made to recipients who paid the ultimate sacrifice while demonstrating gallantry beyond the call of duty. Forged in battle, from the shell-scarred hills of Korea, to the windswept marshland of East Falkland and today's counter-insurgency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, each one of these VC has a uniquely inspiring tale to tell. These are their incredible stories.

Nigel Cawthorne is a prolific writer. He has written a number of true-crime works including the high-sellingFlight MH370:The Mystery (2014; revised and updated edition 2015) and The Great Diamond Heist(2016) which was optioned by ITV Studios.