| A badge of metal, struck in honour of some valiant achievement, or to commemorate some great event, or remarkable discovery. It is borne suspended from the shield, and is frequently given as a charge in Coat Armour. Albert medal. This decoration was instituted 7th March, 1866, to be awarded, in cases where it shall be considered fit to such persons as shall endanger their own lives in saving, or endeavouring to save the lives of others from shipwreck or other perils of the sea. There are two classes. The Medal of the First Class is of gold, enamelled dark blue with Monogram V and A interlaced with an anchor erect in gold, surrounded with a Garter in bronze, inscribed in raised letters of gold "For Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea", and surmounted by a Crown representing that of Prince Albert. The Ribbon is dark-blue, inch width, with four white longitudinal stripes. In the Second Class the medal is entirely of bronze, the Ribbon wide with two white stripes only. In April 1877, by the especial desire of Her Majesty the Albert Medal was to be given for saving life on Land. The First Class, the badge is gold, enamelled crimson, with Monogram V and A. The Second Class, the Medal is entirely of bronze. The Ribbon for both is crimson. |