Military Wiki
Nkwe ya Boronse (Bronze Leopard)
File:Nkwe ya Boronse medal.jpg
Awarded by South African National Defence Force
Country  South Africa
Type Medal
Awarded for Exceptional leadership or exceptional meritorious service and the utmost devotion to duty
Post-nominals NB
Statistics
Established 27 April 2003
Precedence
Next (higher) Nkwe ya Selefera

Ribbon

The Nkwe ya Boronse (Bronze Leopard) is a South African military decoration issued for bravery. It is South Africa's third of the three classes of the Nkwe Decorations (see also Nkwe ya Gauta and Nkwe ya Selefera decorations).

History[]

It was instituted with effect from 27 April 2003, and may be awarded to members of the South African National Defence Force (or any other armed forces serving with the SANDF) for bravery during military operations. A bar may be awarded to a recipient who earns the decoration again. The Nkwe ya Boronse (Bronze Leopard) Decoration replaced the Honoris Crux Decoration (Awarded for bravery in danger). Language of origin: SEPEDI

Criteria[]

The honours for meritorious conduct may be awarded to officers and other ranks of the SANDF who have distinguished themselves by exceptional leadership or exceptional meritorious service and the utmost devotion to duty.[1] A bar may be awarded for a successive similar achievement.

Guidelines[]

Distinguished Conduct[]

  • Distinguished above others.
  • Incident/different incidents.
  • Sustained high performance.
  • More than normal.
  • Positive conduct sheet.
  • Creative.
  • Initiative.

Exceptional Combat Leadership[]

  • Incidents/Deeds depicting outstanding leadership qualities.
  • Result of operation in favour of SANDF.
  • Create trust amongst fellow soldiers.
  • Places a high premium on the prevention of the loss of lives.
  • Careful execution of operational plan.

Wear[]

The award of the decoration for service in active military operations shall be indicated by distinguishing insignia according to the Service in which the recipient was serving, i.e.

  • Army uniform: Crossed swords
  • Air Force uniform: Eagle
  • Naval uniform: Anchor
  • Military Health Service uniform: Rod of Aesculapius.

A bar may be awarded to a recipient who earns the decoration again. A recipient is entitled to use the post-nominal letters NB.

Description[]

Obverse

The decoration is a bronze 5-armed convex cross with rays separating the arms. In the centre is a light blue roundel displaying a leopard's head.

Reverse

The South African coat of arms appears on the reverse.

Ribbon

The ribbon is light blue with bronze edges. Light blue represents the feathers of the blue crane bird, which Xhosa kings used to present to brave warriors. An arm-of-service emblem is worn on the ribbon to indicate whether the recipient was serving in the army, Air Force, Navy, or Military Health Service at the time of earning the decoration. Ribbon colour design: BRONZE (Silver) 6mm and SKY BLUE (Blue Crane) 20mm

The NB forms part of a trio of military decorations for bravery, the others being the Nkwe ya Gauta (Golden Leopard) and the Nkwe ya Selefera (Silver Leopard).

Recipients[]

SANavy Bronze Leopard recipients

CPO Smith, CPO Du Plessis and WO van Nieuwholtz

Medal No Name Service Rank Unit Date

awarded

Action cited for
001[2] van Nieuwholtz J.PB SA Navy WO 2 Diving School 27 November 2008 Operation Bapisa - clearing of unexploded ordnance from 26 March to 27 April 2007[3]
? Smith N.C.[4] CN SA Navy CPO Diving School 27 November 2008 Operation Bapisa - clearing of unexploded ordnance from 26 March to 27 April 2007[5]
? Du Plessis I.PB SA Navy CPO Diving School 27 November 2008 Operation Bapisa - clearing of unexploded ordnance from 26 March to 27 April 2007[6]

References[]

External links[]

All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Nkwe ya Boronse and the edit history here.