Valour Cross
Tapperhedskorset
Obverse of the Valour Cross
Awarded forOutstanding acts of courage in combat
DescriptionSilver cross pattée with a gilded edge with gold medallion with monogram and 2010 superimposed
Country Denmark
Presented bythe
Monarch of Denmark
EligibilityPersons of any rank in the armed forces
Post-nominalsT.K.
MottoFor Tapperhed (in Danish); For Bravery (in English)
StatusCurrently awarded
Established14 November 2011[1]
First awarded18 November 2011[2]
Total1
Ribbon bar of the Valour Cross
Precedence
Next (higher)None
Next (lower)Defence Medal for Bravery

The Valour Cross (Danish: Tapperhedskorset) is the highest military decoration of Denmark. Established on 14 November 2011,[1] and first awarded on 18 November 2011, it is awarded for outstanding acts of courage in combat.[2]

Criteria

The Valour Cross is presented for extraordinary courage occurring during combat, where the soldier acted altruistically in an obviously dangerous situation. Efforts are aimed at promoting the solution of an important task or to save the lives of others. The Valour Cross is the highest Danish military decoration; it is comparable to the British Victoria Cross or the United States' Medal of Honor.[3]

Description

The Valour Cross decoration is a silver cross pattée with a gilded edge, the lower arm being longer than the others. On the obverse in the center of the cross is a gold medallion with HM The Queen's monogram above the year 2010. Each of the four arms of the cross bear three letters each of the inscription FOR TAPPERHED (meaning "for valour"). The reverse is engraved with the name and grade of the recipient, as well as the location and year of the event for which they were honoured.[1]

The Valour Cross is suspended from a white ribbon with a red center stripe.[1] When worn as a ribbon bar it is the same as the Defence Medal for Bravery but bears a miniature of the gold medallion from the center of the cross.[2]

Recipients

Since the creation of the Valour Cross, there has been only one recipient of the decoration. This first recipient is Sergeant Casper Westphalen Mathiesen of the Engineer Regiment, based in Skive, Denmark. On 19 February 2010, while deployed to Afghanistan with ISAF, Sergeant Mathiesen risked his own life and well being to defend a wounded comrade during a firefight. His bravery under fire is credited with holding off the enemy and allowing his comrade to receive medical assistance.[4]

Name Rank Unit Operation Date of award Reason awarded Ref
Casper Westphalen Mathiesen [da]
(born 1985) 		Sergeant Engineer Regiment ISAF 18 November 2011 On 19 February 2010, during fighting, unhesitatingly and clearly recognising the risk of his own life and limb, provided cover for a wounded comrade by standing between him and the enemy. He maintained this very vulnerable position and fired on the enemy so that additional help could arrive. [4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Cirkulære om det af Forsvarsministeriets indstiftede og af Hendes Majestæt Dronningen den 14. november 2011 approberede Tapperhedskors". retsinformation.dk. 2011-11-16. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
  2. ^ a b c "Dronningen overrækker nyt Tapperhedskors til hjemvendt soldat". forsvaret.dk. Archived from the original on 2012-01-21. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
  3. ^ "året Der Gik" (PDF). Forsvaret. December 2011. p. 63. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
  4. ^ a b Nielsen, Sune Wadskjær (11 November 2011). "Tapperhedskors til Casper Westphalen Mathiesen fra ISAF hold 9". forsvaret.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 29 February 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2012.
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