Megan

Get well soon, Archie. Marco, you are welcome for the image, I'll replace it with the black background later. You've given the order of precedence for the better-known military Sandile Decoration, that was awarded to members of the Ciskei Defence Force. Do you think that this version, awarded to Ciskei Police officers, ought to be next to it? (That's the nice thing about writing websites, you can move stuff around easily! Although as my book-writing plans are based on PDF, it's also easy to make amendments...)

The 2005 Order of Precedence only mentions Sandile Decoration (Military Division)... so I have run some comparisons with other awards, licked a finger and stuck it in the air, and made a guess as to where this beastie should go, now you've reminded me of its existance and I've found an image. Oh well, medal for tonight chosen then 🤓

Actually I do...

Sitting in a Jeopardy Board - students who have flunked their courses, should we kick them out... So...Gazankulu Police Star for Faithful Service for your delight (and my sanity!)

Useful quick reference, thank you Marco!

Glad to be of service! (For once - I have been the recipient of generousity from Archie and your good self in this quest for South African medals!)

Found one!

Very fine - think this is the final version of this award, 1980-1989.

Looking for images of the Ciskei Police Insignia for Steadfast Service. This is the 20 years good service award. I believe the ribbon is green with 2 white stripes, and that the medal is bronze with an image of a crane in a laurel wreath on the obverse and the Ciskei Police badge on the reverse.

Sounds like an epic fellow, no doubt now enjoying eternity.

Slippery slope indeed, but Greg is already sliding down it 🤓 Great find!

Hmmm... the South African Railways Police Star for Faithful Service appears to have the inscription MERIT VERDIENST on the reverse rather than the FAITHFUL SERVICE TROUE DIENS that Archie describes (and which Monick also gives for this award). Am I going nuts? The South African Railway Police Star for Merit ought to have that reverse inscription, but of course a different ribbon... and it's gilt rather than silver.

Nice - award to a German with note about it and the case... impressive addition to your collection.

Ah, I see... not one I have encountered before. Thank you for sharing!

Another gem... but I'm a bit cofused here. Is this not the ribbon for the Defence Service Medal (20 Years, 1500 flying hours, or 1500 parachute jumps), but the medal for the 20 years version is different:

Thank you, Emmanuel, you do manage to get to the most interesting places and find fascinating things!

I don't know of a distinction between civilian and military awards, but the design changed: early versions (1946-1956) had a red/green/white triangle edging to the red flag, later awards did not - the flag being plain red. Here's the early version for you:

Thank you for the encouragement, Flávio. It's always nice to hear that people find my website useful. There's alsways more to add, though 🤓

One could surmise that military personnel involved in procurement of equipment might become eligible in the course of their work with manufacturers, too.

Outstanding collection. Thank you for showing this...

Good looking beastie - I like the way they've incorporated the virus into the design of the cross.

About the only documentation is Hyginus Eugene Cardinale's book Orders of Knighthood, Awards, and the Holy See - and that is not particularly detailed (I have a copy tucked away). Yet another area I really ought to get up on my website!

How are you doing for pictures, Antonio?

Oooh, missed this. Good to see you are getting on to the parachute jump ones as well as the flying ones.

Nice collection.... and a little-known area. Thank you for sharing.