Military Medal for Exemplary Behaviour

Medalha de Comportamento Exemplar

1971 and 2002 models

The EXEMPLARY BEHAVIOUR MEDAL awards the military who, throughout their career, show exemplary moral and disciplinary conduct, zeal towards their service and proved spirit of loyalty. It comprehends the following degrees: Gold, Silver and Copper.

It was created in October 2, 1863, together with the MILITARY VALOR and GOOD SERVICES (later DISTINGUISHED SERVICES), as one of the original 3 classes of the Military Medal.

DESIGN

OBVERSE: National emblem, encircled with the legend «COMPORTAMENTO EXEMPLAR» (Exemplary Behaviour), in uppercase elzevir font, encircled in turn by a laurel wreath;

REVERSE: a disc encircled by a laurel wreath; on top, a shield with the 5 “quinas”; below this, the right hand of a medieval warrior holding a key and an ancient sword. Inside the laurel wreath, an encircling legend: «PORTUGUESES NOS FEITOS E NA LEALDADE» (Portuguese in Feats and in Loyalty), in uppercase elzevir font.

Medal design evolution over time

FITAS SIMPLES

SOURCES

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

Military Medal for Distinguished Services

Medalha de Serviços Distintos

Created in October 2, 1863, by decree of the Secretary of State for the Affairs of War, initially with 2 degrees (Gold and Silver), and since 1919 with 3 (Gold, Silver and Copper), it awards “relevant and outstanding services of a military nature, or notable acts of any nature connected with the military institution, from which results, in either cases, honor and brilliance for the Fatherland or for the institution”.

When it was created, in 1863, this class of the Military Medal was named GOOD SERVICES, name which would be substituted in 1946 by DISTINGUISHED SERVICES.

DESIGN

OBVERSE: National emblem, encircled with the legend «SERVIÇOS DISTINTOS» (Distinguished Services), in uppercase elzevir font, encircled in turn by a laurel wreath; on top, a trophy;

1863-1911 model reverse, Silver.

REVERSE: on the forground a national banner surrounded by 2 oakleafs, with the superimposed figured, half body, of a warrior from the time of the foundation of the nationality (XII Century), holding an ancient sword in his right hand, and a shield on his left, protecting his left torax; this is surrounded by the legend «PARA SERVIR-VOS BRAÇO ÀS ARMAS FEITO» (To Serve you, Arm to Arms), in uppercase elzevir font, encircled in turn by a laurel wreath; on top, a trophy.

The Distinguished Services medal shared the obverse of the Military Medal from its inception in 1863 up to 1946

RIBBONS

SOURCES

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

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PRECEDENCE

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Above: Military Order of Aviz

Below: Medal for Military Merit

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

Recognition Medal

The RECOGNITION MEDAL (Medalha de Reconhecimento) is awarded to the military who have been deprived of freedom, in campaign situation or in associated circumstances, as well as in other missions in national territory or abroad, specially humanitarian or peace missions.

This medal, the last to be created, in the 2002 legislation, responded to the many demands of the veterans, mainly those who fought in India, 1961, and that became Prisoners of War. The Portuguese Government refused to accept the Indian conditions for POW release – only civilian ships or aircrafts could land on Indian soil. Many POW returned home on their own expenses, in commercial flights, or with the help of local populations in Goa, Damão and Diu.

DESIGN

OBVERSE: 5 pointed star, each point ending in a small armilar sphere; in the center, a disc with a national emblem, encircled by the legend «RECONHECIMENTO» (Recognition), in uppercase elzevir font;

REVERSE: identical to the obverse, but with the legend «A QUEM SE SACRIFICOU PELA PÁTRIA» (To those who have sacrificed themselves for the Fatherland) in the center disc, in uppercase elzevir font, in 6 lines; encircling the legend, a laurel wreath..

SOURCES

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

Promoted for Distinguished Feats in Campaign Medal

Medalha de Promovidos por Feitos Distintos em Campanha

The PROMOTED FOR DISTINGUISHED FEATS IN CAMPAIGN MEDAL awards the military who, by exceptional military virtues or command, management and leadership endowments, demonstrated in campaign or in associated circumstances, have been promoted with distinction.

Originally, by decree nr. 6264, December 2, 1919, it was created as a simple ribbon, with the name PROMOTED WITH DISTINCTION INSIGNIA.

DESIGN

OBVERSE: 5 pointed star, each point ending in a small armilar sphere; in the center, a disc with a national emblem, encircled by the legend « PROMOÇÃO POR DISTINÇÃO » (Promotion by Distinction), in uppercase elzevir font;

REVERSE: identical to the obverse, but with the legend «MORRER MAS DEVAGAR» (Dying, but slowly) in the center disc, in uppercase elzevir font, in 3 lines; encircling the legend, a laurel wreath.

SOURCES

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

- MELO, Olímpio de (1923), Ordens Militares Portuguesas e Outras Condecorações, Lisboa: Imprensa Nacional de Lisboa

The insignia in 1919

Wounded in Campaign Medal

Medalha de Feridos em Campanha

The WOUNDED IN CAMPAIGN MEDAL is awarded to military who, in campaign or in associated circumstances, have suffered a permanent handicap, characterized by the anatomic loss of an organ or function.

Originally, by decree nr. 4886, October 5, 1918 (8th anniversary of the Republic), it was created as a simple special ribbon, with the name WAR MUTILATED AND CRIPPLED INSIGNIA, for use in the uniform and in civilian clothing. I believe it was only made a medal in the 1946 legislation.

DESIGN
OBVERSE: 5 pointed star, each point ending in a small armilar sphere; in the center, a disc with a national emblem, encircled by the legend «FERIDOS EM CAMPANHA» (Wounded in Campaign), in uppercase elzevir font;
REVERSE: identical to the obverse, but with the legend «MORRER MAS DEVAGAR» (Dying, but slowly) in the center disc, in uppercase elzevir font, in 3 lines; encircling the legend, a laurel wreath.

SOURCES
- Decreto-Lei n.º 316/2002 de 27 de Dezembro - Regulamento da Medalha Militar e das Medalhas Comemorativas das Forças Armadas;
- MELO, Olímpio de (1923), Ordens Militares Portuguesas e Outras Condecorações, Lisboa: Imprensa Nacional de Lisboa.

Special Service Commissions Medal

Medalha Comemorativa de Comissões de Serviço Especiais

Initially, this decoration was integrated in the PORTUGUESE ARMED FORCES CAMPAIGNS COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL of 1946, only differing in the ribbon (white with red edges), and awarded “in such cases as simple expeditions or action of any action in which the circumstances didn’t demand the realization of operations of war” (Art. 43, Regulations 1946).

Although, from the 1971 regulations on, there is an effective distinction between the SPECIAL SERVICE COMMISSIONS MEDAL and the CAMPAIGNS MEDAL, they have the same design, only differing in the ribbon.

The SPECIAL SERVICE COMMISSIONS COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL awards “military who, integrating or not organized forces, national or multinational, have accomplished service missions abroad” (Art. 47, Regulation 2002).

DESIGN

Reverse (1971)

OBVERSE: National emblem, encircled with the legend «CAMPANHAS E COMISSÕES ESPECIAIS DAS FORÇAS ARMADAS PORTUGUESAS» (Campaigns and Special Commissions of the Portuguese Armed Forces), in uppercase elzevir font, encircled in turn by a laurel wreath; on top, a mural crown with 5 towers;

REVERSE: disc with, on the upper part, a National Banner; imposed on it, the figures of a soldier of the Army, to the right, a soldier of the Air Force, in the middle, and a sailor of the Navy, to the left, standing on a pedestal; encircling, the legend «ESTE REINO É OBRA DE SOLDADOS» (This Kingdom is the Work of Soldiers”), in uppercase elzevir font; on top, the same crown mural, as on the obverse.

NOTES

CLASPS APPROVED FOR THIS MEDAL

DATE/DECREE/LEGEND

19/4/1958

16669

INDIA (civil years since 1/7/1954)

12/8/1958

-

TIMOR 1945-1946

7/5/1964

20563

CABO VERDE (civil years since 15/5/1961)

7/5/1964

20565

GUINÉ (civil years since 1/9/1959)

7/5/1964

20566

S. TOMÉ E PRINCIPE (civil years since 1/7/1961)

7/5/1964

20567

ANGOLA (civil years since 1/7/1960)

7/5/1964

20568

MOÇAMBIQUE (civil years since 15/8/1960)

7/5/1964

20569

MACAU (civil years since 1/8/1962)

7/5/1964

20570

TIMOR (civil years since 1/8/1961)

20/1/1966

21813

ULTRAMAR

SOURCES

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

- Wikicommons