This list of medals for bravery is an index to articles about notable medals awarded for bravery or valor. These medals, usually associated with military forces, police forces, or other public safety entities, are 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:
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. [1] Non-English speaking nations which have or had a medal usually translated into English as "Bravery Medal" or "Medal of Bravery" include:
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:
| Country | Award | Description |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 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 terrorist attacks in 2001 at the World Trade Center and The Pentagon |
| Germany | 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." |
| United States | FBI Medal of Valor | Presented by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in recognition of an exceptional act of heroism or voluntary risk of personal safety and life |
| Italy | Gold Medal of Military Valour | Established on 21 May 1793 by King Victor Amadeus III of Sardinia |
| United States | Los Angeles Police Medal of Valor | The highest law enforcement medal given by the Los Angeles Police Department |
| United States | Maryland Medal for Valor | Awarded to members of the Maryland National Guard in recognition of acts of personal heroism |
| Canada | Medal of Military Valour | Canada's third highest award for military valor |
| United States | 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 |
| Israel | Medal of Valor | An Israeli Military decoration |
| United States | New York City Police Department Medal for Valor | Conferred upon New York City police officers for acts of outstanding personal bravery |
| Philippines | Philippine Medal of Valor | The highest military award given by the Armed Forces of the Philippines |
| Singapore | Pingat Keberanian | Singaporean Medal of Valor, awarded for an act of courage and gallantry in circumstances of personal danger |
| United States | Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor | Awarded to American police officers, firefighters and other emergency services personnel by the United States Department of Justice |
| Italy | Silver Medal of Military Valor | An Italian medal established in 1833 by King Charles Albert of Sardinia |
| United States | Texas Medal of Valor | Awarded to members of the state military forces by the Governor of Texas for acts of personal heroism |
| Uzbekistan | Medal of Valor | Awarded to civilians and service members by the President of Uzbekistan for demonstrations of courage, professionality, and loyalty to Uzbekistan. |
Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism, meritorious or outstanding service or achievement. A decoration is often a medal consisting of a ribbon and a medallion.
The Médaille militaire is a military decoration of the French Republic for other ranks for meritorious service and acts of bravery in action against an enemy force. It is the third highest award of the French Republic, after the Legion of Honour, a civil and military order, and the Order of Liberation, a Second World War-only order. The Médaille militaire is therefore the most senior entirely military active French decoration.
The orders, decorations, and medals of Canada comprise a complex system by which Canadians are honoured by the country's sovereign for actions or deeds that benefit their community or the country at large. Modelled on its British predecessor, the structure originated in the 1930s, but began to come to full fruition at the time of Canada's centennial in 1967, with the establishment of the Order of Canada, and has since grown in both size and scope to include dynastic and national orders, state, civil, and military decorations; and various campaign medals. The monarch in right of each Canadian province also issues distinct orders and medals to honour residents for work performed in just their province. The provincial honours, as with some of their national counterparts, grant the use of post-nominal letters and or supporters and other devices to be used on personal coats of arms.
The Louw Wepener Decoration, post-nominal letters LWD, is a military decoration for bravery which was instituted by the Union of South Africa in 1952. It was awarded to members of the South African Defence Force for acts of the most conspicuous courage or greatest heroism. The decoration was discontinued on 1 July 1975, when a new set of decorations and medals was instituted.
Portugal has a system of orders, decorations, and medals as a means of honouring individuals for personal bravery, achievement, or service to Portugal.
The Military Merit Medal was a military decoration of the Empire of Austria-Hungary. It was founded by Emperor Franz Joseph I on March 12, 1890. The Military Merit Medal is often referred to as the "Signum Laudis" after the inscription on the reverse of the medal.
The Star of Courage is a decoration that is the second-highest award for bravery within the Canadian system of honours, and one of the three Canadian Bravery Decorations awarded by the Canadian monarch, generally through his or her viceroy-in-Council. Created in 1972, it is presented to both living and deceased individuals deemed to have performed "acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril". Recipients are allowed to use post-nominal letters – for Anglophones SC, and for Francophones ÉC.
Colombian military decorations date back as far as the founding of the country. An early decoration was the Cruz de Boyacá that was awarded to the generals who led their forces to victory in the Battle of Boyacá in 1819. This early decoration lives on today as an incarnation of the highest order presented by the Colombian state. There is one decoration higher, but it is only awarded for military conflicts in defence of Colombia. Other than military decorations, Colombia presents decorations on behalf of the National Government, decorations for the National Police, and decorations from the Congress of Colombia.
The decorations for citizens who do great deeds for, or on behalf of, the country.
The Medal for Bravery "Miloš Obilić", commonly known as the Medal of Miloš Obilić, is a state decoration awarded by the Republic of Serbia, and before that by the Kingdom of Serbia and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, for heroic acts.
The Medal for Bravery was a military decoration of Austria-Hungary established in 1789 and awarded for bravery in battle until the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918.
The Military Valor Medal is a prestigious military decoration and the second highest honour in Portugal. Established on 2 October 1863, it is awarded for heroic deeds of extraordinary selflessness and bravery, or great moral courage and exceptional ability to make decisions, whether in war or peace, but always in circumstances where there is proven or suspected danger to life. The Medal is divided into three grades - Gold, Silver and Copper. The award of the Gold Medal confers the entitlement to wear a fourragère.
The Valour Cross is the highest military decoration of Denmark. Established on 14 November 2011, and first awarded on 18 November 2011, it is awarded for outstanding acts of courage in combat.
This is a list of orders, decorations, and medals of Austria-Hungary.
The Honoris Crux of 1975, post-nominal letters HC, is a military decoration for bravery which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. The decoration was awarded to members of the South African Defence Force for bravery in dangerous circumstances. It was the junior in a set of four Honoris Crux decorations in four classes, which together replaced the discontinued Honoris Crux of 1952.
The Gallantry Cross, Gold was instituted by the President of the Republic of Venda in 1985, for award to all ranks for extreme courage or supreme bravery or valour beyond the normal call of duty.
The Gallantry Cross, Silver, post-nominal letters GCS, was instituted by the President of the Republic of Venda in 1985, for award to all ranks for courage or bravery or valour beyond the normal call of duty.
The Union of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery, Gold was the highest South African civilian decoration during the period from 1952 to 1961, while the country was still a constitutional monarchy in the British Commonwealth. The decoration was instituted by Queen Elizabeth II on 15 December 1952.
The Union of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery, Silver is the lesser of two classes of a South African civil decoration for acts of bravery that was in use from 1952 to 1961, while the country was still a constitutional monarchy in the British Commonwealth. The decoration was instituted by Queen Elizabeth II on 15 December 1952.