Although the VC is made of bronze as it was traditionally smelted from the last surviving bronze cannon from Sevestapol.
You are quite right about the source of the bronze mngd. A chap I know in the medal manufacturing trade recently visited Hancocks, the London jewellers who have have been making the VC since its inauguration. He was privileged to to be shown the plates of bronze kept in their strongroom from which they strike the crosses as required.
but there really is no price that can be put on the lives of those lost.
Agreed chappie, you could make it from 24 ct gold inset with diamonds and it still wouldn't represent 1% of a life's worth. What's important is it's a symbol, and I am prepared to believe it's a well-intentioned one.