Cross of Valour (Australia)
Cross of Valour (Canada)
The Cross of Valour was established in 1975 as the highest Australian Bravery Award. The awards were established as part of the institution of the Australian Honours System. The Cross of Valour has been awarded to five Australian civilians to date and, although there has been no Australian military recipient, they would be eligible in situations where normal honours to the military do not apply.
The Cross of Valour is awarded “only for acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril”. The award carries the post-nominal initials CV; awards may be made posthumously.
The Cross of Valour (French: Croix de la vaillance) is a decoration that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the second highest award (surpassed only by the Victoria Cross for Canada), the highest honour available for Canadian civilians, and the highest of the three Canadian Bravery Decorations. Created in 1972, the medallion is presented to individuals, both Canadians and foreigners, living and deceased, who have performed acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril and grants recipients the ability to use the post-nominal letters CV.
