Context: Military valour decorations are national honours awarded in recognition of acts of valour, self-sacrifice, or devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy.
Four Canadians were awarded the (British) Victoria Cross for their heroic actions on Vimy Ridge during the First World War. It was awarded for 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 medal was instituted on February 5, 1856 with awards retroactive to 1854.
Eligibility and Criteria: A person is eligible to be awarded a Military Decoration if that person, on or after 1 January, 1993, is: a member of the Canadian Armed Forces; or a member of an allied armed force that is serving with the Canadian Armed Forces.
Description: A bronze straight-armed cross pattee, 38 mm across, with raised edges:
on the obverse, a lion guardant standing upon the Royal Crown, and below the Crown, a scroll bearing the inscription “PRO VALORE”; and
• on the reverse, the date of the act for which the decoration is bestowed is engraved in a raised circle.
The Cross is suspended by a plain link from a V below a straight bar ornamented with laurel leaves, on the back of which is engraved the rank, name, and unit of the recipient. The ribbon is crimson and measures 38 mm in width. Note the ribbon is identical to its British predecessor.