A medal awarded for bravery, commonly called a Medal of Bravery, Bravery Medal, or Medal of Valor is a type of medal, usually associated with military forces, police forces, or other public safety entities, given to personnel who have served with gallantry, often for those who have engaged in specific acts of bravery or valor. As a formal name in English, "Bravery Medal" may refer to:
The Australian Bravery Medal
The New Zealand Bravery Medal
The Fiji Bravery Medal
In addition, several English-speaking nations have a medal called the "Medal of Bravery" or the "Medal of Valor", including Canada and Tanzania. The three Canadian Bravery Decorations were created in 1972, to recognize people who risked their lives to try to save or protect the lives of others: the Cross of Valour (C.V.) recognizes acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril; the Star of Courage (S.C.) recognizes acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril; and the Medal of Bravery (M.B.) recognizes acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances. Non-English speaking nations which have or had a medal usually translated into English as "Bravery Medal" or "Medal of Bravery" include:
Albania - Medalja e Trimërisë (1945–1982)
Austrian Empire and Austria-Hungary - Tapferkeitsmedaille or Medal for Bravery (Austria-Hungary), awarded from (19 July 1789–1918)
Belgium - Médaille pour acte de courage, de dévouement et d’humanité
China - Hong Kong:
Medal for Bravery (Gold) (1997–)
Medal for Bravery (Silver) (1997–)
Medal for Bravery (Bronze) (1997–)
Czechoslovakia – Medaile "Za chrabrost pred nepritelem" (Medal for Bravery Before the Enemy)
France - Médaille d’honneur pour acte de courage et de dévouement (Honour medal for courage and devotion)
German States:
Bavaria - officially the Militär-Verdienst Medaille (Military Merit Medal), but commonly referred to as the Tapferkeitsmedaille (1794–1918)
Saxe-Altenburg - Tapferkeitsmedaille (1915–1918)
Hungary - Vitézségi Érem (1922–1944)
Iran - Medal for Bravery
Iraq - Nut al-Shujat
Ireland - Comhairle na Míre Gaile
India - Param Vir Chakra
Montenegro - Медаља за храброст (1841–1918)
Russia - За отвагу (Medal for Bravery) (1938-)
Saudi Arabia – Nut al-Shaja'at
Serbia:
Medalja za hrabrost (1913–1918; 1990–)
Medal for Bravery (1912)
South Africa:
Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Gold (1939–1952)
Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Silver (1939–1952)
Union of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery, Gold (1952–1961)
Union of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery, Silver (1952–1961)
Sweden:
För tapperhet i fält (For Valour in the Field), awarded from 28 May 1789 - the first Gallantry Award.
From 1807/09 supplemented by För tapperhet till sjöss (For Valour at Sea)
Thailand - เหรียญกล้าหาญ (The Bravery Medal) (1941-)
United Arab Emirates – Nut al-Shaja'at
Yugoslavia (Kingdom) - Medalja za hrabrost (1918–1941)
Yugoslavia (SFRY) - Medalja za hrabrost (1943–1991)
In addition, there are a number of other decorations of various countries which are customarily translated into English using other synonyms for bravery, but are occasionally translated as "bravery". These include the Soviet Medal "for Valor" and the Israeli Medal of Valor. Medals specifically including "valor" include:
9/11 Heroes Medal of Valor, awarded by the government of the United States, created specifically to honor the public safety officers who were killed in the line of duty during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center and The Pentagon
Bundeswehr Cross of Honour for Valour, the highest class of the Bundeswehr Cross of Honour awarded for "...an act of gallantry in the face of exceptional danger to life and limb whilst demonstrating staying power and serenity in order to fulfil the military mission in an ethically sound way."
FBI Medal of Valor, presented by the FBI in recognition of an exceptional act of heroism or voluntary risk of personal safety and life
Freedom Medal of Valor, an award given by the Church of Scientology
Gold Medal of Military Valor, an Italian medal established on 21 May 1793 by King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia
Los Angeles Police Medal of Valor, the highest law enforcement medal given by the Los Angeles Police Department
Maryland Medal for Valor, awarded to members of the Maryland National Guard in recognition of acts of personal heroism
Medal of Military Valour, Canada's third highest award for military valour
Medal of Valor (Civil Air Patrol), a decoration that may be awarded to a member of the Civil Air Patrol, the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force
Medal of Valor (Israel), an Israeli Military decoration
New York City Police Department Medal for Valor, conferred upon NYC police officers for acts of outstanding personal bravery
Philippine Medal of Valor, the highest military award given by the Armed Forces of the Philippines
Pingat Keberanian, Singaporean Medal of Valour, awarded for an act of courage and gallantry in circumstances of personal danger
Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor, awarded to American police officers, firefighters and other emergency services personnel by the U.S. Department of Justice
Silver Medal of Military Valor, an Italian medal established in 1833 by King Charles Albert of Sardinia
Texas Medal of Valor, awarded to members of the state military forces by the Governor of Texas for acts of personal heroism
