South African military decorations

An overview of South African military decorations and medals, which form part of the South African honours system.

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:

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:

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 NamePost NominalsPeriod currentNumber awardedAwarded forRibbon
Castle of Good Hope DecorationCGH1952–2003Never awardedMost conspicuous bravery
Louw Wepener DecorationLWD1952–19757Most conspicuous courage or greatest heroism
Star of South AfricaSSA1952–197520Exceptionally meritorious service
Van Riebeeck DecorationDVR1952–19752Distinguished service in the field (officers)
Honoris Crux (1952)HC1952–19755Gallantry in action against the enemy
Van Riebeeck MedalVRM1952–19755Distinguished service in the field (other ranks)
Louw Wepener MedalLWM1967–19758Courageous or heroic deeds in saving lives
Southern Cross Medal (1952)SM1952–75587Outstanding devotion to duty
Pro Merito Medal (1967)PMM1967–75374Outstanding devotion to duty (other ranks)
Danie Theron Medal1970–2003Diligent service in the Commandos
Jack Hindon Medal1970–197518Diligent service in the Commandos (other ranks)
Campaign medals
Korea Medal1953Service in the Korean War
Commemorative Medals
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal1953To commemorate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
Long Service Medals
Union Medal1952–196118 years service in the Permanent Force
Permanent Force Good Service Medal1961–197518 years service in the Permanent Force
John Chard DecorationJCD1952–200320 years service in the Citizen Force
De Wet DecorationDWD1952–200320 years service in the Commandos
John Chard Medal1952–200312 years service in the Citizen Force
Cadet Corps Medal1966–196720 years service in school cadets
Shooting Medals
Queen's Medal for Champion Shots1953–1961Winning the annual SADF shooting championships
Commandant General's Medal1965–1975Winning the annual SADF shooting championships
Emblems
Mentioned in Despatches1967–2003
Commendation by the Chief of the SADF1968–1974

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.

Major Arthur Walker HCG and Bar SM: Honoris Crux Gold and Bar, Southern Cross Medal, Pro Patria Medal, Southern Africa Medal, General Service Medal (South Africa), Good Service Medal, Bronze, Zimbabwean Independence Medal, General Service Medal (Rhodesia), and a United Nations medal for peacekeeping operations
Decoration NamePost NominalsPeriod currentNumber awardedAwarded forRibbon
Castle of Good Hope DecorationCGH1952–2003Never awardedMost conspicuous bravery
Honoris Crux DiamondHCD1975–93Never awardedDeath-defying heroic deeds of outstanding valour
Honoris Crux GoldHCG1975–936Outstanding bravery in extreme danger
Star of South Africa, GoldSSA1975–2003Meritorious military service.
Star of South Africa, SilverSSAS1975–2003Meritorious military service.
Honoris Crux SilverHCS1975–200327Exceptional bravery in great danger
Honoris Crux (1975)HC1975–2003201Bravery while in danger
Pro Virtute DecorationPVD1987–2003Distinguished conduct and exceptional combat leadership (officers)
Southern Cross DecorationSD1975–2003Outstanding service of the highest order, and utmost devotion to duty (Officers)
Pro Merito DecorationPMD1975–2003Outstanding service of the highest order, and utmost devotion to duty (other ranks)
Pro Virtute MedalPVM1987–2003Never awardedDistinguished conduct and exceptional combat leadership (other ranks)
Ad Astra DecorationAAD1987–2003Excellent flying skill or ingenuity by SA Air Force aircrew in emergencies or unusual situations[1]
Army CrossCM1991–2003Exceptional courage, leadership, skill or ingenuity in dangerous or critical situations (army personnel)
Air Force CrossCA1991–2003Exceptional courage, leadership, skill or ingenuity in dangerous or critical situations (air force personnel)
Navy CrossCN1991–2003Exceptional courage, leadership, skill or ingenuity in dangerous or critical situations (naval personnel)
Medical Service CrossCC1991–2003Exceptional courage, leadership, skill or ingenuity in dangerous or critical situations (military health service personnel)
Southern Cross Medal (1975)SM1975–2003Exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty (officers)
Pro Merito Medal (1975)PMM1975–2003Exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty (other ranks)
Danie Theron MedalDTM1970–2003Exceptionally diligent and outstanding service in the Commandos
Military Merit MedalMMM1974–2003Service of a high order
Campaign medals
Pro Patria Medal1974–1992Operational service in combating terrorism or in defence of South Africa
Southern Africa Medal1989Service in military operations outside South Africa and South West Africa between 1976 and 1989
General Service Medal1992Operational service inside South Africa from 1983
Commemorative Medals
Unitas Medal1994To commemorate the amalgamation of the SADF, APLA, MK and the homeland defence forces to form the SA National Defence Force
Long Service Medals
Medal for Distinguished Conduct and Loyal Service1987–200340 years service in the Defence Force
Good Service Medal, Gold1975–200330 years service in the Permanent Force
Good Service Medal, Silver1975–200320 years service in the Permanent Force
John Chard DecorationJCD1952–200320 years service in the Citizen Force
De Wet DecorationDWD1952–200320 years service in the Commandos
John Chard Medal1952–200312 (from 1986, 10) years service in the Citizen Force
Good Service Medal, Bronze1975–200310 years service in the Permanent Force
De Wet Medal1987–200310 years service in the Commandos
Shooting Medals
SADF Champion Shot Medal1975–2003Champion shots of the annual SADF Bisley in the categories of fullbore, smallbore, pistol and service shooting
Cadet Corps Champion Shot Medal1987–2003
Emblems
Mentioned in Dispatches1967–2003

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
Decoration NamePost NominalsPeriod currentNumber awardedAwarded forRibbon
Gold Star for BraveryGSB1996–2003Exceptional bravery in great danger
Bravery Star in SilverBSS1996–2003Bravery
Star for Conspicuous LeadershipSCL1996–2003Distinguished conduct and exceptional combat leadership
Gold Decoration for MeritGDM1996–2003Outstanding service and utmost devotion to duty
Silver Medal for MeritSMM1996–2003Exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty
Bronze Medal for MeritBMM1996–2003Service of a high order
Campaign medals
Operational Medal for Southern Africa1996–2003Operational service outside South Africa
South Africa Service Medal1996–2003Operational service inside South Africa
Long Service medals
Gold Service Medal1996–200330 years service in APLA
Silver Service Medal1996–200320 years service in APLA
Bronze Service Medal1996–200310 years service in APLA

Umkhonto we Sizwe
Decoration NamePost NominalsPeriod currentNumber awardedAwarded forRibbon
Star for Bravery in GoldSBG1996–2003Exceptional bravery in great danger
Star for Bravery in SilverSBS1996–2003Bravery
Conspicuous Leadership StarCLS1996–2003Distinguished conduct and exceptional combat leadership
Decoration for Merit in GoldGDMG1996–2003Outstanding service and utmost devotion to duty
Merit Medal in SilverMMS1996–2003Exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty
Merit Medal in BronzeMMB1996–2003Service of a high order
Campaign medals
Operational Medal for Southern Africa1996–2003Operational service outside South Africa
South Africa Service Medal1996–2003Operational service inside South Africa
Long Service medals
Service Medal in Gold1996–200330 years service in Umkhonto we Sizwe
Service Medal in Silver1996–200320 years service in Umkhonto we Sizwe
Service Medal in Bronze1996 –200310 years service in Umkhonto we Sizwe

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
Superior Service
Campaign medal
Commemoration Medal
Long service medal
Emblems

Bars and Clasps

See also

References
  1. http://samw.hwmw.net46.net Archived 6 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine

Further reading
  • 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.
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