[2] The Valour Cross is presented for extraordinary courage occurring during combat, where the soldier acted altruistically in an obviously dangerous situation.

[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.

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.