ALBERT MEDAL, a British decoration instituted in 1866 as an award for signal acts of bravery in saving life at sea, and extended in 1877 to acts of bravery on land. The conditions governing the award were amended in 1905. There are two classes, each with two divisions. The medal, which is in gold for the 1st class and bronze for the 2nd, is oval, and bears the monogram V.A. The ribbon is either blue (for bravery at sea) or crimson (for bravery ashore) with white vertical stripes.