The dimensions of World War I were, regarding the length of time and the number of engaged troops so large that it became obvious that the Golden and the two Silver Bravery Medals were not sufficient to honour all the heroic acts of the non-commissioned personnel. To that end the Bronze Bravery Medal was instituted on the 14th of February 1915 and finally the bars for repeat awards (Wiederholungsspangen) on the 29th of November 1915. These bars, perhaps with the exception of the bars for fourth awards, are common with silver or bronze bravery medals but very rare for the Golden Bravery Medal. The reason was that, on several occasions, it was ordered by the emperor that persons, who had received the Golden Bravery Medal, should "as far as possible" be employed in positions behind the front e.g. training the troops to save their lives as an encouragement for the people. Kaiser Karl added to this order on the 17th of July 1917 with "had to be employed in the rear under all circumstances" but this was too difficult, especially as the aviation troops would have been deprived of their best pilots and so he was compelled to made an exception (2nd of August 1917) for all flying personnel. Another creation of Kaiser Karl was the introduction of a Bravery Medal for Officers on the 15th of September 1917. These medals, awarded in Silver or in Gold with a "K" from corresponding material fixed to the ribbon, did not attract any monthly pension. The greater number of the Golden Bravery Medals for Officers were awarded after the war from the Militär-Maria Theresien-Ordenskapitel - under special circumstances, from a legalistic point of view. The following lists honour all these heroic men who performed their outstanding duty for their fatherland from their Fliegerkompanien (FliK) with the army as well as from the Seeflugstationen (SFS) of the navy, . http://www.austro-hungarian-army.co.uk/gtmfly.htm
