In terms of collective awards, the GC was awarded to an entire island - Malta.
'With the coming of World War Two, it was inevitable that Malta would immediately find itself in the firing line. Less than 24 hours after Italy entered the war in June 1940, the first air-raids by the Italian Air Force occurred. Malta's position enabled her to strike at the Axis forces in the Mediterrenerean, disrupting their operations in North Africa and elsewhere. The ship repairing facilities were invaluable for the British Fleet.
Malta had to be defended but the early months saw much damage as the islands' air defences, initially composed of three Gloster Gladiator biplanes which the locals immediately christened Faith, Hope and Charity, were brought up to scratch with the inclusion of Hurricane and Spitfire fighters.
The air attacks increased. The Luftwaffe joined in. Over 1941 and 1942, 3000 raids occurred. The towns surrounding the industrial areas around the harbours took a fearful pounding, and much of the population was evacuated to the centre of the island. Thousands of the inhabitants and British defenders were killed and maimed. Malta was the most heavily bombed place on earth - proportionately more bombs fell than on the English industrial town of Coventry.
And as the convoys carrying precious supplies were attacked and sunk, the islands suffered the pangs of hunger and disease. By August 1942, the situation was desperate. The arrival of the battered remains of a convoy on the 15th of August was, as in a previous siege, ascribed by the inhabitants to a miracle interceded by the Virgin, on whose Feast of the Assumption it occurred.
Despite all the suffering, the inhabitants and the garrison held out. Once again, the eyes of the world were on Malta's struggle against a superior enemy. Once again, the tide turned in Malta'a favour. But not before King George VI made a gesture unique in history. On the 15th April, 1942 he awarded the George Cross to the Maltese Nation, an honour still proudly borne by the Maltese on their flag.
The scroll accompanying the medal reads "To honour her brave people I award the George Cross to the Island Fortress of Malta to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history "'