An overview of South African military decorations and medals, which form part of the South African honours system.
Honoris Crux Diamond medal
Colonial forces 1894–1913[]
The colonial military forces received British military decorations in wartime. From 1894, the colonial governments awarded medals for distinguished conduct and for long service. This was the general practice in the British Empire at that time. The colonial medals were:
- Decorations
- Volunteer Officers' Decoration (VD) (1894–1901)
- Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration (VD) (1900–13)
- Distinguished Conduct Medal (1896–1913)
- Campaign medals
- Long service medals
- Long Service & Good Conduct Medal (1896–1913)
- Meritorious Service Medal (1896–1913)
- Volunteer Long Service Medal (1894–1901)
- Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal (1900–13).
Union Defence Forces 1913–1952[]
The colonial forces were replaced in 1912 by the Union Defence Forces, which continued the system. British decorations for gallantry and distinguished service were awarded during World War I and World War II, and the South African government granted the other categories of award. They were:
- Decoration
- Distinguished Conduct Medal (1914–40)
- Campaign medals
- Victory Medal (1919)
- Africa Service Medal (1943)
- Long service medals
- Long Service & Good Conduct Medal (1914–39)
- Long Service & Good Conduct Medal (Military) (1939–52)
- Meritorious Service Medal (1914–40)
- Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration (VD) (1913–39)
- Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal (1913–39)
- Efficiency Decoration (ED) (1939–52)
- Efficiency Medal (1939–52)
- RNVR Volunteer Officers' Decoration (VD) (1915–49)
- RNVR Long Service & Good Conduct Medal (1915–49)
- Air Efficiency Award (1950–52).
Boer war veterans[]
In 1920, the South African government instituted a separate set of awards, for Boer veterans of the 1899–1902 Anglo-Boer War — neither of the Boer republics for which they had fought had had its own honours system. The awards were:
- Decoration
- Dekoratie voor Trouwe Dienst (Decoration for Devoted Service) (DTD)
- Campaign medals
South African Defence Force[]
1952–1975[]
South Africa introduced its own honours system in 1952. Its largest component was a series of military decorations and medals, which not only replaced the existing long service medals, but provided substitutes for the decorations which the British government had awarded in wartime:
| Decoration Name | Post Nominals | Period current | Number awarded | Awarded for | Ribbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castle of Good Hope Decoration | CGH | 1952–2003 | Never awarded | Most conspicuous bravery | 
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| Louw Wepener Decoration | LWD | 1952–1975 | 7 | Most conspicuous courage or greatest heroism | 
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| Star of South Africa | SSA | 1952–1975 | 20 | Exceptionally meritorious service | 
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| Van Riebeeck Decoration | DVR | 1952–1975 | 2 | Distinguished service in the field (officers) | 
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| Honoris Crux – 1st Type | HC | 1952–1975 | 5 | Gallantry in action against the enemy | 
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| Van Riebeeck Medal | VRM | 1952–1975 | 5 | Distinguished service in the field (other ranks) | File:VRMlint.gif |
| Louw Wepener Medal | LWM | 1967–1975 | 8 | Courageous or heroic deeds in saving lives |
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| Southern Cross Medal – 1st Type | SM | 1952–75 | 587 | Outstanding devotion to duty | 
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| Pro Merito Medal – 1st Type | PMM | 1967–75 | 374 | Outstanding devotion to duty (other ranks) | 
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| Danie Theron Medal | 1970–2003 | Diligent service in the Commandos | 
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| Jack Hindon Medal | 1970–1975 | 18 | Diligent service in the Commandos (other ranks) | 
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| Campaign medals | |||||
| Korea Medal | 1953 | Service in the Korean War | 
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| Long Service Medals | |||||
| Permanent Force Good Service Medal | 1952–1975 | 18 years service in the Permanent Force | 
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| John Chard Decoration | JCD | 1952–2003 | 20 years service in the Citizen Force | 
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| De Wet Decoration | DWD | 1952–2003 | 20 years service in the Commandos | 
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| John Chard Medal | 1952–2003 | 12 years service in the Citizen Force |
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| Cadet Corps Medal | 1966–1967 | 20 years service in school cadets | 
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| Shooting Medals | |||||
| Commandant-General's Medal | 1965–2003 | Winning the annual SADF shooting championships | 
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| Emblems | |||||
| Mentioned in Despatches | 1967–2003 | ||||
| Commendation by the Chief of the SADF | 1968–1974 | ||||
1975–2003[]
A new system was introduced in 1975. It retained seven of the existing decorations and medals. Innovations included a hierarchy of merit awards, cumulative long service medals, and colour-coded ribbons. As the South African Defence Force was engaged in military operations in South West Africa and Angola throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the number of awards granted each year increased significantly. Additional decorations were instituted between 1987 and 1991.
| Decoration Name | Post Nominals | Period current | Number awarded | Awarded for | Ribbon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castle of Good Hope Decoration | CGH | 1952–2003 | Never awarded | Most conspicuous bravery |
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| Honoris Crux Diamond | HCD | 1975–93 | Never awarded | Death-defying heroic deeds of outstanding valour | 
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| Honoris Crux Gold | HCG | 1975–93 | 6 | Outstanding bravery in extreme danger | 
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| Order of the Star of South Africa | SSA/SSAS | 1975–2003 | meritorious military service. | 
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| Honoris Crux Silver | HCS | 1975–2003 | 27 | Exceptional bravery in great danger | 
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| Honoris Crux — 2nd Type | HC | 1975–2003 | 201 | Bravery while in danger | 
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| Pro Virtute Decoration | PVD | 1987–2003 | Distinguished conduct and exceptional combat leadership (officers) | 
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| Southern Cross Decoration | SD | 1975–2003 | Outstanding service of the highest order, and utmost devotion to duty (Officers) | 
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| Pro Merito Decoration | PMD | 1975–2003 | Outstanding service of the highest order, and utmost devotion to duty (other ranks) | 
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| Pro Virtute Medal | PVM | 1987–2003 | Distinguished conduct and exceptional combat leadership (other ranks) | File:PVMlint.gif | |
| Ad Astra Decoration | AAD | 1987–2003 | Excellent flying skill or ingenuity by SA Air Force aircrew in emergencies or unusual situations[1] | File:AADlint.gif | |
| Army Cross | CM | 1991–2003 | Exceptional courage, leadership, skill or ingenuity in dangerous or critical situations (army personnel) | 
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| Air Force Cross | CA | 1991–2003 | Exceptional courage, leadership, skill or ingenuity in dangerous or critical situations (air force personnel) | 
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| Navy Cross | CN | 1991–2003 | Exceptional courage, leadership, skill or ingenuity in dangerous or critical situations (naval personnel) | 
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| South African Medical Service Cross | CC | 1991–2003 | Exceptional courage, leadership, skill or ingenuity in dangerous or critical situations (military health service personnel) | 
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| Southern Cross Medal — 2nd Type | SM | 1975–2003 | Exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty (officers) | 
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| Pro Merito Medal — 2nd Type | PMM | 1975–2003 | Exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty (other ranks) | 
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| Danie Theron Medal | DTM | 1970–2003 | Exceptionally diligent and outstanding service in the Commandos |
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| Military Merit Medal | MMM | 1974–2003 | Service of a high order | File:MMMint.gif | |
| Campaign medals | |||||
| Pro Patria Medal | 1974– 1989 | Operational service in combating terrorism or in defence of South Africa | 
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| Southern Africa Medal | 1989 | Service in military operations outside South Africa and South West Africa between 1976 and 1989 | 
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| General Service Medal | 1989 | Operational service inside South Africa from 1983 | 
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| Commemorative Medals | |||||
| Unitas Medal | 1994 | To commemorate the amalgamation of the SADF, APLA, MK and the homeland defence forces to form the SA National Defence Force | 
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| Long Service Medals | |||||
| Medal for Distinguished Conduct & Loyal Service | 1987–2003 | 40 years service in the Defence Force | 
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| Good Service Medal (Gold) | 1975–2003 | 30 years service in the Permanent Force | 
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| Good Service Medal (Silver) | 1975–2003 | 20 years service in the Permanent Force | 
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| John Chard Decoration | JCD | 1952–2003 | 20 years service in the Citizen Force |
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| De Wet Decoration | DWD | 1952–2003 | 20 years service in the Commandos |
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| John Chard Medal | 1952–2003 | 12 (from 1986, 10) years service in the Citizen Force |
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| Good Service Medal (Bronze) | 1975–2003 | 10 years service in the Permanent Force | 
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| De Wet Medal | 1987–2003 | 10 years service in the Commandos | 
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| Shooting Medals | |||||
| Commandant-General's Medal | 1965–2003 |
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| Cadet Corps Champion Shot Medal | 1987–2003 | 
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| Emblems | |||||
| Mentioned in Despatches | 1967–2003 | ||||
Armed opposition organisations[]
In 1996, two separate sets of decorations were instituted for veterans who had served in the Azanian People's Liberation Army and Umkhonto we Sizwe during the armed campaign against the former government.
Azanian People's Liberation Army[]
- Decorations
- Gold Star for Bravery (GSB)
- Bravery Star in Silver (BSS)
- Star for Conspicuous Leadership (SCL)
- Gold Decoration for Merit (GDM)
- Silver Medal for Merit (SMM)
- Bronze Medal for Merit (BMM)
- Campaign medal
- Long service medal
- Service Medal (APLA)
Umkhonto we Sizwe[]
- Decorations
- Star for Bravery in Gold (SBG)
- Star for Bravery in Silver (SBS)
- Conspicuous Leadership Star (CLS)
- Decoration for Merit in Gold (DMG)
- Merit Medal in Silver (MMS)
- Merit Medal in Bronze (MMB)
- Campaign medal
- Long service medal
- Service Medal (MK)
South African National Defence Force[]
The South African National Defence Force, which was formed in 1994 by amalgamating the SADF, the liberation armies, and the military forces of the former homelands, used the SADF decorations and medals until 2003, when a new series of decorations was instituted:
- Bravery
- Nkwe ya Gauta (NG) (Golden Leopard)
- Nkwe ya Selefera (NS) (Silver Leopard)
- Nkwe ya Boronse (NB) (Bronze Leopard)
- Superior Service
- iPhrothiya yeGolide (PG) (Golden Protea)
- iPhrothiya yeSiliva (PS) (Silver Protea)
- iPhrothiya yeBhronzi (PB) (Bronze Protea)
- Campaign medal
- Tshumelo Ikatelaho (General Service Medal)
- Long service medal
- Medalje vir Troue Diens (Medal for Loyal Service)
- Emblems
- Okhankanyiweyo (Mentioned in Despatches)
- Emblem for Reserve Force Service (RD) (Reserve Distinction)
References[]
- Alexander, E. G. M., Barron G. K. B. and Bateman, A. J. (1986). South African Orders, Decorations and Medals. Human and Rousseau.
- Monick, S. (1988). South African Military Awards 1912–1987. South African National Museum of Military History.
See also[]
- Orders, decorations, and medals of South Africa
- British and Commonwealth orders and decorations
- South African civil honours
- South African intelligence service decorations
- South African orders and decorations
- South African police decorations
- South African prisons decorations
References[]
External links[]
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The original article can be found at South African military decorations and the edit history here.