Victoria Cross

[warpig1]

I read somewhere that these were all made from the metal of a particular cannon, which cannon is it and from what era?

Thanks
warpig1

[Bellringer]

They are allegedly made from Russian cannon captured at the battle of Sebastapol during the Crimean War.

[shaneystar2]

It is widely believed that all VCs are cast from the bronze cascabels of two cannon of Chinese origin that were captured from the Russians at the siege of Sebastopol, except during the First World War when metal from guns captured from the Chinese during the Boxer Rebellion was also used. However, a 2006 book on the VC's history by historian John Glanfield calls the traditional account into question, arguing that it is impossible that the metal used for VCs made before 1914 really does come from the Sebastopol guns. Also, the Sebastopol metal went missing between 1942 and 1945, when another source of metal was used to make five Second World War VCs.

The barrels of the cannon in question are stationed outside the Officers' Mess at the Royal Artillery Barracks at Woolwich. The remaining portion of the only remaining cascabel, weighing 358 oz (10 kg), is stored in a vault by 15 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps at Donnington, Telford. It can only be removed under armed guard.

It is estimated that approximately 80 to 85 more VCs could be cast from this source. A single company of jewellers, Hancocks of London, has been responsible for the production of every VC awarded since its inception.

Source Wikipedia