South African military decorations order of wearing

The first South African military medal was a campaign medal, the South Africa Medal, instituted in 1854 by Queen Victoria, the sovereign of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, for award to officers and men of the Royal Navy and British Army who served on the Eastern Frontier of the Cape Colony between 1834 and 1853 during the Xhosa Wars.

Five more South African campaign medals were instituted during the Colonial era until 1910, when the Union of South Africa was established as a dominion of the British Empire. After Union and until 1952, members of the Union Defence Forces (UDF) could be awarded decorations and medals of the British Empire and, from 1949, the British Commonwealth. A number of purely South African decorations and medals were also instituted during this period, such as belated awards for Boer forces who fought in the Second Boer War, a Union commemorative medal and South African versions of some Empire medals with bilingual inscriptions in English and Dutch or Afrikaans.

The first purely South African military orders, decorations and medals were instituted in 1952 by Elizabeth II, the Queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms. From 1961 decorations and medals were instituted by the South African State President and, between 1976 and 1994, also by the Presidents of the TBVC States, Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei. These awards were instituted in seven groups for the seven separate military and para-military forces which were integrated into the South African National Defence Force in 1994.

The South African military

The Union of South Africa was established on 31 May 1910 in terms of the South Africa Act, 1909, enacted by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. In terms of Section 17 of the Act the command-in-chief of the naval and military forces within the Union was vested in the British monarch or in the Governor-General of the Union of South Africa as his representative.

The Union Defence Forces were established in 1912 in terms of the Union Defence Act, no. 13 of 1912, enacted by the Parliament of the Union of South Africa. The UDF were renamed the South African Defence Force (SADF) in 1958. On 27 April 1994 the SADF was integrated with six other independent South African military and para-military forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).

The seven constituent forces of the SANDF were:

• The South African Defence Force (SADF).
• The Transkei Defence Force (TDF).
• The Bophuthatswana Defence Force (BDF).
• The Venda Defence Force (VDF).
• The Ciskei Defence Force (CDF).
• Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the military wing of the African National Congress (ANC).
• The Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA), the military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC).

Orders, decorations and medals

Main article: South African military decorations

Until 31 May 1961 the Fount of Honour was the British monarch. In 1961 the State President of South Africa became the Fount of Honour. In the TBVC states, established between 1976 and 1981, the Founts of Honour were the respective State Presidents. On 27 April 1994 the President of South Africa became the Fount of Honour for all military orders, decorations and medals.

The Colonial and Dominion era

Until 1961, at first during the Colonial era and then from 1910 when the Union of South Africa was established, all military decorations and medals which were awarded to members of the Colonial Forces, the UDF and SADF were instituted by the British monarch.

The 1952–1975 group

The first purely South African military decorations and medals were instituted by the monarch of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms on 6 April 1952 and, from 31 May 1961, by the State President. In 1952 a series of military decorations and medals was instituted by Queen Elizabeth II, consisting of substitutes for many of the British and Commonwealth awards which had been used until then. There were initially ten awards, to which a further eight as well as an emblem for being mentioned in dispatches were added between 1953 and 1970. All displayed the national coat of arms on the reverse, with the exception of the Union Medal and the Permanent Force Good Service Medal which had it on the obverse. Those awarded before South Africa became a republic in 1961 had Queen Elizabeth II's royal cipher above the coat of arms on the reverse.

The 1975–2003 group

During the limited representation Republican era, in July 1975, the military decorations and medals of the Republic were revised. Seven decorations and medals were carried over from the earlier series of 1952–1975 and, along with the Order of the Star of South Africa with decorations in two military and five non-military classes, thirteen new awards were instituted. They were followed by another eleven new decorations and medals between 1987 and 1991. With the exception of the Pro Virtute Decoration, the trio of Good Service Medals and the National Cadet Bisley Grand Champion Medal, all displayed the national coat of arms on the reverse.

The TBVC group

Between 1976 and 1981 the four independent republics of Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei, known collectively as the TBVC states, were established within South Africa. Each of them instituted a set of military decorations and medals for award to members of their respective defence forces.

The MK and APLA group

On 27 April 1994 South Africa became a fully representative republic. In 1996 a set of decorations and medals were instituted for award to members and veterans of MK and APLA.

The 2003 group

Finally, all but one of these earlier awards were discontinued in respect of services performed on or after 27 April 2003, when a new set of nine decorations and medals was instituted to replace them.

Order of wear

Example of post-1952 South African order of wear. The medals depicted are:

• Southern Cross Medal (1952)
• Permanent Force Good Service Medal
• Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
• 1939–1945 Star
• Africa Star
• Italy Star
• Defence Medal (United Kingdom)
• 1939–1945 War Medal
• Africa Service Medal
• Efficiency Medal (South Africa)

Until 5 April 1952 all South African, other Commonwealth and foreign orders, decorations and medals awarded to South Africans were worn in the order of wear as prescribed by the British Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood.

With effect from 6 April 1952 the aforementioned awards continued to be worn in the order of wear as prescribed on 5 April 1952 but, with one exception, took precedence after all South African orders, decorations and medals awarded to South Africans on or after that date. The exception was the Victoria Cross which, if awarded to a South African before 6 April 1952, still took precedence before all other awards.

Sorting keys

The table below lists all the South African military orders, decorations and medals in the official order of wear. All the table columns are sortable and the two columns for order of wear, "OoW 2003" and "OoW 1993", will sort the awards in either the combined order of wear which became effective on 27 April 2003, or in the individual orders of wear of the seven constituent forces which were integrated into the SANDF on 27 April 1994.

Most decorations for gallantry, distinguished and meritorious service and exceptional devotion to duty entitle the recipients to use the post-nominal letters as shown in the "PN" column of the table. These are succeeded, in order, by campaign medals in order of date of campaign, commemoration medals in order of date of institution, decorations and medals for efficiency, long service and good conduct, medals for skill at arms and proficiency in musketry, pre-1952 British era decorations and medals, and awards for voluntary and unremunerated service.

OoW 2003	Order, Decoration or Medal	PN	Type	OoW 1993	From	To
	Victoria Cross	VC	Bravery		1856	1952
	Honoris Crux Gold	HCG	Bravery		1975	1992
	Gold Star for Bravery	GSB	Bravery		1996	2003
	Star for Bravery in Gold	SBG	Bravery		1996	2003
	Nkwe ya Gauta	NG	Bravery		2003
	Star of South Africa, Gold	SSA	Merit		1975	2002
	Star of South Africa, Silver	SSAS	Merit		1975	2002
	Order of the Leopard, Military Division, Commander		Merit		1992	1994
	Star of South Africa	SSA	Merit		1952	1975
	Louw Wepener Decoration	LWD	Bravery		1952	1975
	Distinguished Gallantry Cross		Bravery		1982	1994
	Gallantry Cross, Gold	GCG	Bravery		1985	1994
	Honoris Crux (1952)	HC	Bravery		1952	1975
	Honoris Crux Silver	HCS	Bravery		1975	2003
	Van Riebeeck Decoration	DVR	Bravery		1952	1975
	Honoris Crux (1975)	HC	Bravery		1975	2003
	Gallantry Cross, Silver	GCS	Bravery		1985	1994
	Cross for Bravery		Bravery		1994	1994
	Bravery Star in Silver	BSS	Bravery		1996	2003
	Star for Bravery in Silver	SBS	Bravery		1996	2003
	Nkwe ya Selefera	NS	Bravery		2003
	Pro Virtute Decoration	PVD	Bravery		1987	2003
	Southern Cross Decoration	SD	Merit		1975	2003
	Pro Merito Decoration	PMD	Merit		1975	2003
	Conspicuous Leadership Star	CLS	Bravery		1996	2003
	Star for Conspicuous Leadership	SCL	Bravery		1996	2003
	Defence Force Merit Decoration		Merit		1982	1994
	Distinguished Service Medal, Gold		Merit		1985	1994
	Sandile Decoration	SD	Merit		1988	1994
	Decoration for Merit in Gold	DMG	Merit		1996	2003
	Gold Decoration for Merit	GDM	Merit		1996	2003
	iPhrothiya yeGolide	PG	Merit		2003
	Van Riebeeck Medal	VRM	Bravery		1952	1975
	Louw Wepener Medal	LWM	Bravery		1967	1975
	Distinguished Gallantry Medal		Bravery		1982	1994
	Nkwe ya Boronse	NB	Bravery		2003
	Ad Astra Decoration	AAD	Bravery		1991	2003
	Army Cross	CM	Bravery		1987	2003
	Air Force Cross	CA	Bravery		1987	2003
	Navy Cross	CN	Bravery		1987	2003
	Medical Service Cross	CC	Bravery		1987	2003
	Southern Cross Medal (1952)	SM	Merit		1952	1975
	Pro Merito Medal (1967)	PMM	Merit		1967	1975
	Distinguished Service Medal, Silver		Merit		1985	1994
	Southern Cross Medal (1975)	SM	Merit		1975	2003
	Pro Merito Medal (1975)	PMM	Merit		1975	2003
	Defence Force Merit Medal		Merit		1982	1994
	Sandile Medal	SM	Merit		1988	1994
	Marumo Medal, Class I		Merit		1988	1994
	Merit Medal in Silver	MMS	Merit		1996	2003
	Silver Medal for Merit	SMM	Merit		1996	2003
	iPhrothiya yeSiliva	PS	Merit		2003
	Danie Theron Medal	DTM	Merit		1970	1993
	Jack Hindon Medal	JHM	Merit		1970	1975
	Military Merit Medal	MMM	Merit		1974	2003
	Defence Force Commendation Medal		Merit		1982	1994
	Venda Defence Force Medal		Merit		1984	1994
	Marumo Medal, Class II		Merit		1988	1994
	Transkei Defence Force Medal		Merit		1994	1994
	Bronze Medal for Merit	BMM	Merit		1996	2003
	Merit Medal in Bronze	MMB	Merit		1996	2003
	iPhrothiya yeBhronzi	PB	Merit		2003
	Chief C.D.F. Commendation Medal		Merit		1992	1994
	Korea Medal		Campaign		1953
	Pro Patria Medal		Campaign		1974	1994
	General Service Medal (Venda)		Campaign		1985	1994
	Southern Africa Medal		Campaign		1987	1994
	General Service Medal (South Africa)		Campaign		1987	2003
	Ciskei Defence Medal		Campaign		1988	1994
	Nkwe Medal		Campaign		1990	1994
	General Service Medal (Bophuthatswana)		Campaign		1991	1994
	Operational Medal for Southern Africa		Campaign		1998	2003
	South Africa Service Medal		Campaign		1998	2003
	Tshumelo Ikatelaho		Campaign		2003
	Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal		Commem.		1953	1953
	Independence Medal (Transkei)		Commem.		1976	1976
	Independence Medal (Bophuthatswana)		Commem.		1977	1977
	Independence Medal (Venda)		Commem.		1979	1979
	Independence Medal (Ciskei)		Commem.		1981	1981
	Military Rule Medal		Commem.		1994	1994
	Unitas Medal		Commem.		1994	1994
	Closure Commemoration Medal		Commem.		2003
	Medalje vir Troue Diens and Bar, 50 years		Service		2003
	Medal for Distinguished Conduct and Loyal Service		Service		1987	2003
	Medalje vir Troue Diens and Bar, 40 years		Service		2003
	Good Service Medal, Gold		Service		1975	2003
	Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Gold		Service		1982	1994
	Long Service Medal, Gold		Service		1985	1994
	Gold Service Medal		Service		1996	2003
	Service Medal in Gold		Service		1996	2003
	Medalje vir Troue Diens and Bar, 30 years		Service		2003
	John Chard Decoration	JCD	Service		1952	2003
	De Wet Decoration	DWD	Service		1965	2003
	Cadet Corps Medal		Service		1966	1986
	Good Service Medal, Silver		Service		1975	2003
	Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Silver		Service		1982	1994
	Long Service Medal, Silver		Service		1985	1994
	Service Medal in Silver		Service		1996	2003
	Silver Service Medal		Service		1996	2003
	Medalje vir Troue Diens and Bar, 20 years	RD ♠	Service		2003
	Union Medal		Service		1952	1961
	Permanent Force Good Service Medal		Service		1961	1975
	John Chard Medal		Service		1952	2003
	Good Service Medal, Bronze		Service		1975	2003
	Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Bronze		Service		1982	1994
	Long Service Medal, Bronze		Service		1985	1994
	De Wet Medal		Service		1987	2003
	Faithful Service Medal		Service		1987	1994
	Medal for Long Service, Bronze		Service		1988	1994
	Bronze Service Medal		Service		1996	2003
	Service Medal in Bronze		Service		1996	2003
	Medalje vir Troue Diens		Service		2003
	Queen's Medal for Champion Shots in the Military Forces		Bisley		1924	1961
	Commandant General's Medal		Bisley		1965	1975
	SADF Champion Shot Medal		Bisley		1975	2003
	National Cadet Bisley Grand Champion Medal		Bisley		1987
	President's Medal for Shooting		Bisley		1988	1994
	State President's Medal for Shooting		Bisley		1990	1994
	Dekoratie voor Trouwe Dienst	DTD	Merit		1920	1946
	Distinguished Service Order	DSO	Bravery		1886	1952
	Distinguished Service Cross	DSC	Bravery		1901	1952
	Military Cross	MC	Bravery		1914	1952
	Distinguished Flying Cross	DFC	Bravery		1918	1952
	Air Force Cross	AFC	Bravery		1918	1952
	Distinguished Conduct Medal	DCM	Bravery		1854	1952
	Distinguished Conduct Medal (Natal)	DCM	Bravery		1897	1913
	Conspicuous Gallantry Medal	CGM	Bravery		1874	1952
	Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying)	CGM	Bravery		1943	1952
	Distinguished Service Medal	DSM	Bravery		1914	1952
	Military Medal	MM	Bravery		1916	1952
	Distinguished Flying Medal	DFM	Bravery		1918	1952
	Air Force Medal	AFM	Bravery		1918	1952
	British Empire Medal (Military)	BEM	Merit		1922	1952
	South Africa Medal (1853)		Campaign		1854
	South Africa Medal (1880)		Campaign		1880
	Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal		Campaign		1900
	Queen's South Africa Medal		Campaign		1900
	Medalje voor de Anglo-Boere Oorlog		Campaign		1920	1982
	Lint voor Verwonding		Campaign		1920	1949
	King's South Africa Medal		Campaign		1902
	Natal Native Rebellion Medal		Campaign		1907
	1914–15 Star		Campaign		1918
	British War Medal		Campaign		1919
	Mercantile Marine War Medal		Campaign		1919
	Victory Medal (South Africa)		Campaign		1919
	1939–1945 Star		Campaign		1943
	Atlantic Star		Campaign		1945
	Arctic Star		Campaign		2012
	Air Crew Europe Star		Campaign		1945
	Africa Star		Campaign		1943
	Pacific Star		Campaign		1945
	Burma Star		Campaign		1945
	Italy Star		Campaign		1945
	France and Germany Star		Campaign		1945
	Defence Medal (United Kingdom)		Campaign		1945
	War Medal 1939–1945		Campaign		1945
	Africa Service Medal		Campaign		1943
	King George V Coronation Medal		Commem.		1911	1911
	King George V Silver Jubilee Medal		Commem.		1935	1935
	King George VI Coronation Medal		Commem.		1937	1937
	Meritorious Service Medal (United Kingdom)	MSM ♥	Gallantry		1916	1928
	Meritorious Service Medal (Cape of Good Hope)		Service		1896	1913
	Meritorious Service Medal (Natal)		Service		1897	1913
	Meritorious Service Medal (South Africa)		Service		1914	1939
	Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Cape)		Service		1896	1910
	Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Natal)		Service		1897	1910
	Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Medal		Service		1910	1930
	Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (South Africa)		Service		1930	1952
	Volunteer Officers' Decoration for India and the Colonies	VD	Service		1894	1899
	Volunteer Long Service Medal for India and the Colonies		Service		1896	1899
	Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration	VD	Service		1899	1930
	Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal		Service		1899	1930
	Efficiency Decoration (South Africa)	ED	Service		1930	1952
	Efficiency Medal (South Africa)		Service		1930	1952
	Decoration for Officers of the R.N.V.R.	VRD	Service		1915	1952
	R.N.V.R. Long Service and Good Conduct Medal		Service		1915	1952
	Air Efficiency Award	AE ♣	Service		1942	1952
	Union of South Africa Commemoration Medal		Commem.		1910	1911
	South African Medal for War Services		Volunteer		1945
	Sir Harry Smith's Medal for Gallantry		Unofficial		1851
	Johannesburg Vrijwilliger Corps Medal		Unofficial		1899
	Kimberley Star		Unofficial		1900
	Cape Copper Company Medal for the Defence of O'okiep		Unofficial		1902

Notes

• ♠ In respect of recipients of the Emblem for Reserve Force Service only, indicating "Reserve Distinction".
• ♥ Use of the post-nominal MSM was restricted to awards for acts of gallantry during the First World War.
• ♣ Use of the post-nominal AE was restricted to officers only.

Errors and exclusions

The official order of wear of 2005 contains the caveat that, in the absence of full information on some awards, there may be among the awards listed for the TBVC states some which were never awarded. The official list contains minor errors, one of these being the post-nominal letters "VRD" instead of "DVR" for the Van Riebeeck Decoration. The post-nominal letters "VRD" are used for the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Decoration.

The following decorations and medals are excluded from the table:

• Civil, police, prisons and other non-military decorations and medals.
• Military decorations which, while officially instituted, were never awarded and now never will be. These include:
  • The Castle of Good Hope Decoration (CGH) (South Africa).
  • The Honoris Crux Diamond (HCD) (South Africa).
  • The Pro Virtute Medal (PVM) (South Africa).
  • The Cross for Valour (CCV) (Ciskei).
  • The Cross for Gallantry (CCG) (Ciskei).
  • The Cross for Bravery (CCB) (Ciskei).
  • The Pro Merito Decoration (PMD) (Ciskei).