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What actions could earn a Victoria Cross?
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medal
Pierre and Marie Curie depicted on the obverse of a medal from the Unio Internationalis Contra Cancrum (International Union Against Cancer) commemorating the Curies' discovery of radium in 1898.
The Victoria Cross is the highest decoration for valour in the British armed forces, awarded specifically for extreme bravery or conspicuous courage in the face of the enemy.12
While the award was briefly eligible for acts of gallantry performed when not in the presence of the enemy between 1858 and 1881, this practice was discontinued, and the criteria returned to its original focus on combat-related heroism. The medal is bestowed upon members of any branch of the British armed forces who demonstrate remarkable valour. Since 1902, the decoration has also been awarded posthumously to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.12