也可參考wikipedia條目

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Cross

2006/6/29, p. 22

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,59-2247851.html

VC bronze

Sirs, You gave the impression that cannon captured at Sebastopol were not used until 1914 (“Bravest of the brave”, June 27). In fact, the bronze from a Russian cannon was used for all Victoria Crosses until it ran out at the beginning of 1914. Whether by design or accident, the new batch of metal was taken from two Chinese cannon captured at the fall of the Taku Forts in 1860. It is this metal that is still used today and the remaining ingot is kept under heavy security at the Royal Logistics establishment at Donnington.

BRIAN BEST
Victoria Cross Society