South African Defence Force Awards

[archie777]

Here we have the following award:

 

South African Defence Force Good Service Medal Bronze (10 Years Service)

 

Instituted in 1975 with three different ribbons

Permanent Force members - Green with white stripes 

Citizen Force members - Green with dark blue stripes

Commando members - Green with orange stripes

 

The ribbons change in 1992 to green and bronze and Commandos and Citizen Force were excluded

 

There are numerous variants and only those in my collection are shown

[archie777]

Here we have the following award:

 

Factory error of the South African Defence Force Good Service Medal Bronze (10 Years Service) with the Citizen Force ribbon

 

The medal is numbered on the rim

[archie777]

Here we have the following award

 

The Ad Astra Decoration, post-nominal letter AAD, was instituted in 1991, to reward South African Air Force aircrew nembers on biard aircraft for excellent airmanship or outstanding ingenuity or skill during emergencies or critically unusual situations in the air.

 

It was discontinued in 2003, but backdated awards can still be made for acts performed during the period in effect

 

 

[archie777]

A set of a South African Defence Force General

[archie777]

Here is the following award

 

Chief of the SADF Commendation Medal

 

Instituted in 1974

 

Only 2 variations were found in light and dark finish and 1 have the SAM mark helow the COA

[archie777]

Here is the following award

 

Military Merit Medal (MMM)

 

The name changed from Chief of the SADF Commendation Medal In 1993 to Military Merit Medal

 

There are too many variations and I cover those in my collection

 

 

[archie777]

Here is the following award

 

Jack Hindon Medal (JHM)

 

A military decoration which was instituted in the RSA in 1970 and which wasonly in use until 1975.

 

It was awarded to other ranks for diligent service in the Commandos, the rural defence component of the SADF

 

Only 2 variants in light and dark finish

[archie777]

Here we have the following award

 

Danie Theron Medal (DTM)

 

A military decoration which was instituted in the RSA in 1970 and which was in use until 1993. 

 

It was awarded for diligent service in the Commandos, the rural defence component of the SADF. Orihinally reserved for Officers, it was available to all ranks from 1975

 

There was only a few variations

 

[archie777]

Here we have the following award

 

Cadet Corps Medal

 

Instituted in by the RSA in 1966. It could be awarded to officers in the School Cadet Corps for 20 years efficient service.

 

A clasp could be awarded after 30 years service.

 

 

 

 

[archie777]

Here we have the following award

 

The National Cadet Bisley Grand Champion Medal

 

A military medal which was instituted by the RSA in 1987. Originally named the Cadet Corps Grand Champion Shot Medal, it was awarded to the Grand Champion of the annual National Cadet Bisley of the School Cadet Corps.

 

[Megan]

I reached the Military Merit Medal on my site last night. May I ask if there was any change in insignia when the name was changed from the Chief of the SADF Commendation Medal in 1993?

[archie777]

Here we have the following award

 

The Commandant General's Medal

 

A military marksmanship medal which was created by the Commandant General of the SADF in 1962 and formally instituted by the State President in 1965.

 

 

Hi Megan, yes the name changed in 1993 and that's when they started using the post-nominal letters MMM

[archie777]

Here we have the following award

 

SADF Champion Shot Medal

 

A military medal which was instituted by the RSA in 1975.

 

It was awarded to the champion shots of the annual SADF Shooting Championships in the categories of full-bore, small-bore, service shooting and pistol.

 

Different variations

[archie777]

A set awarded to a W/O1 of the SADF

[archie777]

A collection with awards for a former Chief of the S outh African Defense Force

[archie777]

Here we have the following award

 

De Wet Decoration (DWD)

 

A military long service decoration which was instituted by the RSA in 1965.

 

It could be awarded to members of the Commandos, the rural civil defence component of the SADF, for twenty years of efficient service and good conduct.

 

The decoration was initially reserved for officers, but it was made available to all ranks in 1986. A clasp could be awarded after thirty years service.

 

Numerous variations were awarded.

 

[archie777]

Here we have the following award

 

De Wet Medal (DWM)

 

A military long service decoration which was instituted by the RSA in 1965.

 

It could be awarded to members of the Commandos, the rural civil defence component of the SADF, for ten years of efficient service and good conduct.

 

Numerous variations were awarded. Nit all show, but only those in my collection.

 

Here is a picture of medal number 1

[Marcon1]

3 hours ago, Megan said:

I reached the Military Merit Medal on my site last night. May I ask if there was any change in insignia when the name was changed from the Chief of the SADF Commendation Medal in 1993?

 Hi Megan,

 

I’ll answer your question.

The only real visible difference is in the link suspension.

The Chief of the South African Defence Force Commendation Medal has a loose ring suspender.

Known variants = Dark finish, without SAM mintmark.

                                Light finish, with SAM mintmark. (see photo).

 

The Military Merit Medal (MMM) had first also a loose ring suspender but was quickly replaced with a fixed suspender.

Different variants of this medal are known.

 

Regards, Marcon1.

[archie777]

Here we have the first samples for the De Wet Medal (DWM)

 

The first sample, doesn't have any names on the medal

 

 

[archie777]

I gave the sample without a name, to a friend of mine, also a collector and a member of GMIC Paul Roos.

 

He wrote two excellent books, one on the Pro Patria Medal and recently one on the Honoris Crux awards. He stays currently in Australia.

 

Should anyone be interested in buying his books, please let me know 

[archie777]

Here we have the following award

 

Pro Patria Medal

 

A South African military campaign medal which was instituted by the RSA in 1974.

 

It was awarded to members of the SADF for service in an operational area, as designated by the the Minister of Defence or for engagement in armed combat with the enemy

 

The Cunene clasp was awarded for service in Angola, between 1975 - 1976

 

Two bars were approved, but never awarded

 

Bronze bar - 2nd medal awarded

Silver bar - 3rd medal awarded

 

The Cunene clasp was worn on the medal with the swivel suspender, but many recipients lost their medals through the years and on reissue, received the fix suspender medal

 

Here are too many variations and only those in my collection, are shown.

 

The rarest of all variations, is the SA Mint mark (SAM) medal

Medal set of a former SA Special Forces Operator and RSM

[archie777]

Here we have the following award

 

A South African military campaign medal which was instituted by the RSA in 1987.

 

It was awarded to members of the SADF for service in military operations in Southern Africa, outside the borders of South Africa and South West Africa, between 1 April 1976 and 21 March 1990.

 

Part of a captured T-55 tank was melted and used to struck the first 20 000 of these medals. 

 

Not all variations were struck from this metal. This information came from a worker who worked for the manufacturing company.

 

There was about 4 different variations.

 

 

[archie777]

Here we have the following award

 

General Service Medal

 

A South African military campaign medal which was instituted by the RSA in 1987.

 

It could be awarded to members of the SADF from 1 January 1983, for operational service inside South Africa in the prevention or suppression of terrorism or internal disorder, or the prevention of life, health or property, or the maintenance of essential services and law and order, or crime prevention.

 

The were numerous variations awarded

 

 

 

[archie777]

Here we have the following award

 

Unitas Medal

 

Instituted by tge President of the RSA on 4 November 1994.

 

It was awarded to all ranks who were on the active strength of all seven constituent military forces from 27 April 1994 to 10 May 1994, to commemorate their amalgamation into the SANDF.

 

It was also awarded to personnel of the British Military Advisory and Training Team which served in South Africa at the time.

 

Not many variations were seen

[archie777]

Here we have the following South Acrican Military award:

 

Korea Medal (South Africa)

 

A military campaign medal which was instituted by the Union of South Africa in 1953.

 

It was awarded to volunteers of the Union Defence Force for service in Korea during the 1950 - 1953 Korean War.

 

In the mid 1990's this medal war restruck with some minor differences.

 

Shown are both variants.