[6] In 1979, Queen Elizabeth II approved a proposal that a number of awards, including the Military Cross, could be recommended posthumously.

[13] In 1931, the award was extended to equivalent ranks in the Royal Air Force for actions on the ground.

[14] After the Second World War, most Commonwealth countries created their own honours system and no longer recommended British awards.

The MC is now the third-level award for all ranks of the British Armed Forces for "exemplary gallantry" on land, not to the standard required to receive the Victoria Cross (for "the most conspicuous bravery") or the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross.

[15] The Military Cross was designed by Henry Farnham Burke,[16][17] while its ribbon was created by Victoria Ponsonby, Baroness Sysonby.