Efficiency Medal for Sth. Africa

[Mervyn Mitton]

Firstly, one does not very often see Efficiency Medals for sale on their own - usually they are

attached to a WW2 Group.

Secondly, the South African version is bi-lingual in English and Afrikaans and is very sought after by

collectors.

This one was awarded to Corporal E.J. Hammond of the SAAF (South African Air Force) I have no details of his

service - or, which Branch of Service he was in.

Rather then take a long time to print out the Conditions of Award for the Efficiency Medal I am going to re-produce

the entry from the:

Medal Yearbook 2012 edition. My thanks to the publishers and I would recommend this volume to every medal

collector.

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2012/post-6209-0-65724400-1343665052.jpgclick to enlarge

[Mervyn Mitton]

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2012/post-6209-0-49026400-1343665212.jpgclick to enlarge

[Mervyn Mitton]

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_07_2012/post-6209-0-71174800-1343665362.jpgclick to enlarge

with acknowledgement to Medal Yearbook 2012

[Arthur R]

Very nice, Mervyn and, as you say, unusual to find one of these not attached to a WW2 group.

A point not made in the Medal Yearbook is that whereas in the UK and elsewhere the Efficiency Medal was an army award, in South Africa it was a tri-service award. Hence, as in Cpl Hammond's case, it could be awarded to Active Citizen Force members of the air force.

[James Hoard]

Nice to see.

What is also interesting is the continuation of awards, long after South Africa had become a republic and been evicted from the Commonwealth.

Cheers,

James H

[brian conyngham]

Very nice, Mervyn and, as you say, unusual to find one of these not attached to a WW2 group.

A point not made in the Medal Yearbook is that whereas in the UK and elsewhere the Efficiency Medal was an army award, in South Africa it was a tri-service award. Hence, as in Cpl Hammond's case, it could be awarded to Active Citizen Force members of the air force.

Arthur

Rarest of all are issues to the navy, fortunately have one in a group. Figures of only 55 to 60 to the navy according to the Late Gordon Bickley.

Brian