Military Medal for Valour

Military Medal for Valor

MILITARY MEDAL FOR VALOUR

Created October 2, 1863, by decree of the Secretary of State for the Affairs of War, initially in two degrees – gold and silver, and later with one more – copper, it awards “heroic acts of bravery and self-sacrifice or of great moral courage and exceptional capacity of decision, be in campaign, be in times of peace, but always in circumstances in which there is a proved or presumed life danger” (Law of 2002).

Second highest award

After the Tower and the Sword, the Military Valor medal is the second ranking medal in the order of precedence.

DESIGN

OBVERSE: a cross patée, in a circular fruity crown of laurel, all green, and with a national emblem in the center, encirlcle by the legend «VALOR MILITAR» (Military Valor), in blue, in uppercase golden elzevir font.

REVERSE: plain, with the name and rank engraved, as well as the date of the action.

If won for campaign feats or service, a PALM DEVICE will be added to the ribbon.

The following criteria apply for each of the classes:

GOLD – all the non enamelled features are in gold, and a golden national emblem device is put over the ribbon;

SILVER – all the non enamelled features are in silver, and a silver national emblem device is put over the ribbon;

COPPER – all the non enamelled features are in copper, and there is no device on the ribbon.

1863 model, gold degree, signed S SILVA

Valour in the Ultramar

Awarded during the Colonial War (1961-1975):

Army - 129

Navy - 4

Air Force - 26

RIBBONS

The Military Valour medal shared the general obverse of the Militar Medal, from 1863 to 1946.

SOURCES

- Decreto-Lei n.º 316/2002 de 27 de Dezembro - Regulamento da Medalha Militar e das Medalhas Comemorativas das Forças Armadas;

- Afonso, Aniceto & Matos Gomes, Carlos de, Guerra Colonial, Diário de Notícias, Lisboa: s/d

PRECEDENCE

Above: Military Order of the Tower and the Sword

Below: War Cross medal