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    SWA Territorial Force Merit Medal for Civilians / SWA Gebiedsmag Meriete Medalje vir Burgerlikes - Official, semi-Official or Private medal ??


    Marcon1

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    Hi,

    Can anyone tell me more about this medal ?

    Clip.jpg.8282a2a793aa876e5ce311c12e71aac1.jpgClip_2.jpg.8dd1c435408454964382b388b0cd6801.jpgClip_3.jpg.e1ffd91871d1c0b6cccfe91e4528d8b8.jpg

    Clip_4.jpg.acd8ababc7e08a6f72c1f8c520bb05e8.jpgClip_5.jpg.bdca3dd5201eb29c4c42384db3fd96d2.jpg

    The first picture is from an older thread.

    I have tried googling it but can not find any more info.

    It's not in the listing of SWA medals.

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    Translating the Afrikaans only gets me this: 

    SWA Area Command - Commanding General

    SWA Area Command Merit Medal for Civilians

    But possibly because it is a civilian award its not listed in the books on SA military awards.

    There are a couple of SA researchers on the GMIC.  Perhaps one of them can help here.

     

    Peter

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    Hi Peter,

    If this was a civilian award than why does a Commanding General (thus military) award it ??

    Even if this medal was awarded to civilians working for the military it would still make it a military award !

    SWATF were South African troops helping SWA police in their fight against SWAPO.

    Edited by Marcon1
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    Marcon

    I phrased that badly.  You are correct: a medal awarded to civilians - which is what this is named as - would still technically count as a military award.  I simply had the stray thought that some list compilers would turn up their noses at such an award and not list it.  But perhaps that's fuzzy thinking.  It is indeed a puzzle.

    Still searching and I did find a long list of medals and awards by some of the 'stans' which existed under apartheid.  You can find the listy here and look through it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_Merit_Medal_(South_Africa)

     

    Capture.JPG

    Edited by peter monahan
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    • 4 years later...

    Marco & Megan,

     

    Two further medals were designed for SWATF

     

    Samples of both were made and pictures was taken by Matthew Kalkwarf

     

    Money playled as main factor and it was decided that as the SWATF was demobilising, there was no need for this sort of "extra expenditure"

     

    All information from Matthew Kalkwarf

     

    Here we have the following award

    Pro Nitendo Medal (Latin for the Effort/Shine)

     

    Would have been awarded to all those SWATF members who had actively fought in a contact/front line engagement directly with the enemy (with documented proof)

    Screenshot_20240426_232609_Facebook (1) (1).jpg

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    Marco & Megan,

     

    Here is the second design

     

    Independence Medal

     

    Would have been issued to all members who officially served with SWATF

     

    Information and picture, from Matthew Kalkwarf

    Screenshot_20240426_232609_Facebook (1).jpg

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    • 5 months later...

    Hiya,

     

    Here are some better pictures.

    image.thumb.png.91723ed9e4d26798e7b92245fc0750e6.png

    SWA PRO NITENDO MEDAL -NEVER ISSUED.

     

    image.thumb.png.d8b57f26009bdc9f3c427649670a8f58.png

    PROPOSED SWA INDEPENDENCE MEDAL-NEVER ISSUED.

     

    image.thumb.png.5745f62dbd2bc191492ec6ce0824cbbb.png

    SWA SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR-BRONZE MEDALLION-LARGE-MEASURES 60 MM.

     

    Regards, Marcon1.

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    Hi Megan,

     

    If they are not awarded but are produced, than include them in your listing so that people know what is what.

    Just state that they were never awarded, I'm sure there are many others (especially the more 'higher' ODM's) that never got awarded.

    See 2 examples below.

    image.png.02c6cc044fab2b5667c17d37a567fcfb.png

    The Queen Elizabeth II version was introduced after her succession to the throne in 1952 and has her effigy, facing right and wearing the Tudor Crown. It is circumscribed "ELIZABETH II D:G: BR: OMN: REGINA F: D:" reading around from the top. It is identical to the first Queen Elizabeth II obverse design of the British Efficiency Medal.

    Scroll bar

    The scroll bar on the Queen Elizabeth II version was English only, but this medal was never awarded since it was superseded within a few months of the Queen's succession to the throne.

     

    image.png.4d8769874fe19ad2adb7999f9249ade6.png

    Air Efficiency Award (1950-52)
    A South African variant of a British medal, intended as an award for 10 years CF service in the SA Air Force. It was never awarded, probably because SAAF personnel were already eligible for the ED and Efficiency Medal.

    Insignia: An oval silver medal depicting the head of King George VI (obverse) and the words "Air Efficiency Award - Toekenning vir Bekwaamheid (Lugmag)" (reverse), with the name of the country on the suspender.

     

    So, you see there are more 'never awarded' medals out there and people should know about these just in case they come across one.

     

    Regards, Marcon1.

    Edited by Marcon1
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