Marcon1

Hiya, Question concerning this medal (Bophuthatswana Police Independence Medal) BOPH. POL. IND. MED. = privately done or another variation ?? Regards, Marcon1. Also, CP Insignia for Merit (1981-1995) For (I) particularly meritorious or exemplary service, or (II) 30 years service. Insignia: A circular silver medal displaying the Ciskeian coat of arms (obverse) and the CP badge (reverse). According to an official document, there are two variations of this medal. The one as listed, and an alternate variation where the badge is set abaisse and there above a curved inscription 30 YRS. PICTURE OF ALTERNATE VARIATION WANTED.

Hi Archie, I have information/pictures suggesting there may be 7 versions to collect. SAP Cross for Bravery (PCF) - 1st Type (1963-1989) Awarded for conspicuous and exceptional gallantry in the line of duty, or in protecting or saving life or property. Only 13 decorations were awarded - the first recipient (1964) was Sgt J.R. Nienaber, who drowned while trying to rescue a man from the sea. Superseded by a new decoration of the same name. Insignia: A gold layered cross, depicting a smaller cross on a gyronny background inside a blue circle inscribed "Vivit Post Funera Virtus" (obverse), and the national coat of arms (reverse). Worn on a neck ribbon. 9ct gold. no marking. SAP Cross for Bravery: Gold (PCFG) (1989-2004) Awarded for outstanding bravery in extreme danger. First awarded (1991) to Maj André du Toit, for twice single-handedly disposing of bombs, and for bravery while leading a raid on an armed fugitive's hideout. Insignia: Same design as the 1963 PCF, but smaller and with a narrower ribbon, and worn on the chest. silver marked. No marking. Note diff. Coat of Arms. SAP Cross for Bravery: Silver (PCFS) (1989-2004) Awarded for exceptional bravery in great danger. Insignia: Same design as the PCFG, but in silver. 925 hallmark. No marking. SAP Cross for Bravery (PCF) - 2nd Type (1989-2004) Awarded for bravery while in danger. Insignia: Same design as the PCFS, but in lower-grade silver. Regards, Marcon1.

A limited edition of the medal book is now on sale on Ebay for US$560 + Postage. I bought a paperback version several years ago for about US$120 + postage from a seller in New Zealand.

Hi Archie, How many links should a GZP Star for Distinguished Leadership have ?? The one on your picture has 12 but I have a picture where it has 16 links. As for the GZP Star for Distinguished Service I have seen two different suspenders. Loose ring. (neck ribbon) Fixed suspender ring. (breast medal). Also, what do you make of these two medals ? Top one with whitish enamel and light bronze color. Bottom one with yellow enamel and dark bronze color. Regards, Marcon1.

Hi Archie, Just found these black and white pictures. LP Star for Merit or LP Star for Faithful Service sample ?? - different suspender.- without the word SILVER on back. Regards, Marcon1.

Hi Archie, This is the best I could do. Regards, Marcon1.

Hi Archie, Again great stuff with many thanks. Have the following 3 medals in my collection. Silver-Gilt. Silver (?) Bronze All 3 with different suspender, any idea - first strikes, prototypes, fakes ?? (All with wrong ribbon). Marcon1.

Hi Archie, Concerning the Bophuthatswana State President's Medal for Shooting. I would guess that the second picture with the is the one chosen. The other 3 have those rings that look like the ones used by the German Car manufacturer Audi. I don't think they could have gotten away with that 😁 Regards, Marcon1.

Hi Archie, I've this info = [As authorised] [As issued] [3rd. type] Faithful Service Medal (1987-94) For 10 years devoted service. Other versions While only one medal is officially documented as an award for ten years service in the Transkei Defence Force, two versions are known to exist, the one in silver, as presented to recipients of the medal, and also another in bronze. It is possible that the bronze versions are proof specimens which were never officially accepted or presented, but it is equally possible that an as yet undiscovered third silver-gilt medal also exists. The same official documentation lists long service medals for the Transkei Police and Transkei Prisons for 10, 18, 20, 30 (two versions each) and 35 years service. Since no warrants have yet been traced for several decorations and medals which are known to have been instituted and likely also awarded in Transkei, and since it is unlikely that only the one long service award exists for the Transkei Defence Force while so many exist for the Transkei Police and Transkei Prisons, it can be surmised that, of the two known existing versions of this medal, the bronze was actually intended to recognise ten years faithful service and the silver, twenty years. ++++++++++++++++++ Full Size Transkei Faithful Service ( Stamped Silver ) - note small square with the word silver above where the two sides of the wreath join. This one is different (lettering size) than your silver one. Regards, Marcon1.

Hi Archie, As requested. Kind regards, Marcon1. If you need sharper pictures than I will have to polish it - something I'm not keen on doing.

Hi Archie and Megan, Megan, you are free to use any of my pictures. Many years ago I send you a lot of pictures of GB and you have my name in the acknowledgement list there (2nd. name). Archie, the pictures you have of the Transkei Prisons Service Medal for Faithful Service (20 years) - Silver is of the medal I have now in my collection. I bought it from BidorBuy (BoBshop) for R 1130 (includes postage). Regards, Marcon1.

TPS Medal for Faithful Service: Bronze (1982-87) (c1982-1987) For 18 years service. See also Transkei police for some pictures. Regards, Marcon1.

Hi Archie, Are these of any use ? TP Faithful Service Medal (30 years) Regards, Marcon1. TP Medal for Faithful Service: Bronze (1976-85) (1975-1986) For 18 years service.

Hi Archie, Interesting to see that the one with the green enamel has a different year - 1987 instead of 1986. Mistake by the manufacturer or issued to commemorate 1 year of establishment or perhaps a second minting of the medal ?? As to the rules of GMIC, you are doing fine mate. Your 10, 20 and 30 year medals are different than the ones I have pictures of. note the different front and back (reversed on yours). Silver version (20 years) different suspenders. Also note the different front and back (reversed on yours and bronze). Bronze version (10 years) - note the different front and back (reversed on yours and silver). I will add your picture to my picture file, again with thanks. Marcon1.

Hi Archie, Again thank you for the pictures. One tiny remark, your picture of Bophuthatswana Prison Service Medal for Faithful Service (Silver) for 20 Years Service is the same as the (gold) 30 years version. You can see the same dots and marks on both versions. I'm so used to look for small differences on medals that I could not help but noticing 😉 Marcon1.

Hi Archie, Are these of any help ? Distinguished Service Decoration - short tusks variety. Police Establishment medal - type 1 dark brown variety. Police Force Medal for Loyal Service Police Force medal for Faithful Service It's not much, but every bit helps. If you can use them, feel free to do so. Regards, Marcon1.

Have you ever thought about starting a museum, you have more than enough material for that !! 😄

Hi Archie, A few my own, the rest just pictures i gathered through the years for my own information. I wish I had them, but it's almost impossible to buy them these days at normal prices. Ebay is way to expensive - both in prices and postage. I used to buy a lot of SA medals (Incl. homelands and SWA) on BidorBuy (BoBshop) but most sellers these days will not send items through SAPO International Mail (which always took 3 to 3,5 months to arrive in The Netherlands - talk about snail mail !!) and SAPO is now bankrupt and having the medals send by courier is to expensive. You buy a medal for R150 and you have to pay R500+ for shipment - that is more than they are worth. And if that is not annoying enough, EU rules changed last year on small parcels being send from outside the EU and PostNL (because of customs) will now intercept all parcels and ask for declaration of contains (value) so that they can get money out of me = 21% of the value (tax) + a handling fee. Which makes it even more expensive. So my collecting is on a hold right now. Marcon1.

Hi Archie, Here a few pictures of Venda Police medal variations you may not know of. (Note: Diff. position suspender - long and short tusks). (Note: Diff. position suspender - long and short tusks). Two full-size, Venda Police Establishment medals - type 1 and 2 with a corresponding miniature (no ribbon). MERITORIOUS SERVICE LOYAL SERVICE FAITHFUL SERVICE LOYAL SERVICE LOYAL SERVICE FAITHFUL SERVICE Two full-size, Venda Police Medals for Faithful Service =type 1 and 2, with corresponding miniature (NOTE: DIFF. SUSPENDER !!) Kind regards, Marcon1.

Hi Archie, Again, wow !!!! Question though - 3rd. picture of KwaZulu Police Star for Distinguished Service and KwaZulu Police Star for Outstanding Service = are those breast stars or something else ?? With thanks, Marcon1.

Hi Archie, These are completely new to me. I didn't know that they had intelligence in Bophuthatswana (Service I mean, not that they were idiots). I only know of Defence Force, Police, Prisons Service and Civil awards. Were these ever issued ?? They are not on the 2005 consolidated table of precedence list. What about Ciskei, Transkei and Venda (the other 3 big ones) - do they also have Intelligence Service medals ?? Can't wait to get a copy of your upcoming book and see what else is in there. Many, many thanks. Marcon1.

Thanks Archie, keep the pictures coming - great stuff. Much appreciated. Marcon1.

Small part he says - understatement of the year 😁

10 minutes to midnight here to, but sunday tomorrow 😁

Hi Archie, I just realized that I do not know what is what with Ciskei Prison medals. Ciskei Prisons Service Gallantry Cross (PGC) (1988-94) - picture 9 Ciskei Prisons Service Star for Excellence (PSE) (1988-94/1988-1996) - picture 6 (?) Ciskei Prisons Service Star for Distinction (PSD) (1988-94/1988-1996) - picture 7 (?) Ciskei Prisons Service Star for Merit (PSM) (1988-94/1988-1996) - picture 8 (?) Ciskei Prisons Service Medal for Merit (1988-94/1988-1996) - picture 4 (?) Ciskei Prisons Service Commendation Medal (1988-94/1988-1996) - picture 5 (?) Ciskei Prisons Service Medal for Faithful Service (1988-94/1988-1996) - 30 years service. - picture 1 Ciskei Prisons Service Medal for Faithful Service (1988-94/1988-1996) - 20 years service. - picture 2 Ciskei Prisons Service Medal for Faithful Service (1988-94/1988-1996) - 10 years service. - picture 3 Did I identify them correctly ? Regards, Marcon1.