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Courage Rewarded does not proceed by presenting a large collection of citations but analyzes the meaning of courage using a wide variety of sources ranging from psychology, philosophy and, to the extent practical, memoirs by Canadian soldiers.
In addition, each chapter attempts to show how courage was affected by changes in military technology in that era.
Finally, each chapter in Courage Rewarded describes the development of the British system and then the new Canadian system of honours and awards in the related time period and how it affected awards made to Canadian soldiers. This includes a full analysis for each time period for decorations awarded: first, of the British Victoria Cross, the Distinguished Service Order, the Military Cross, the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Medal; and then of the Canadian Victoria Cross, Star of Military Valour and Medal of Military Valour. As a result, this book is in effect the most complete history yet of gallantry awards to Canadians.
With the first of the new Canadian decorations of military valour awarded in 2007, the era of British awards has ended and, with the combat mission in Afghanistan, a new one begun.
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