Valour Archives - Football and the First World War

The Victoria Cross

The Victoria Cross was instituted by Queen Victoria on 29 January 1856 and is the highest British military award available for gallantry. Awarded for ‘… most conspicuous bravery, or some daring or pre-eminent act of valour or self-sacrifice, or extreme devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy…’, the cross was available to all ranks of the […]

The Air Force Medal

The Air Force Medal (AFM) was instituted on 3 June 1918 and was awarded to British and Commonwealth forces below commissioned rank for ‘an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy.’ The other ranks’ equivalent of the Air Force Cross (AFC), the medal was awarded on just 20 occasions during […]

The Distinguished Flying Medal

The Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) was instituted by Royal Warrant on 3 June 1918 and was awarded to non-commissioned officers and men of the Royal Air Force for ‘an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty performed whilst flying in active operations against the enemy’. Issued to just 104 recipients during World War One, […]

British Gallantry Awards of the First World War

In addition to the various campaign medals that were instituted for issue to members of the British Armed Forces for operational service during the First World War, there were also a number of decorations that could be awarded for acts of conspicuous gallantry and/or distinguished and meritorious service. These medals were normally awarded to recognise […]