South West African / Namibia Medals

[stefan9633]

Im going to post the pictures of South West African medals ive aquired over the years here.

Im particularly interested in these as well as South African medals, because the two countries shared so much in common in the past.

Soldiers of both countries served in both countries military, in fact i just found out the other day that the South African Pro Patria Medal is still worn by those who had earned it, although i dont think its still being issued.

Things have gotten a bit confused in my files so some of these i dont remember if they were for SWA or Namibia as its now known.

[stefan9633]

These arent in any order.

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Campion Shot Medal

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Cross for Bravery Gold

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Cross for Bravery Silver

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Cross for Bravery Bronze

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Defence Force Order of Merit

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Honor Medal (Medal for Next of Kin)

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Namibian 10 year Service Medal

[stefan9633]

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Namibian Campaign Medal with Service Bars

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Independance Medal

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Liberation Medal

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Namibian Commendation Medal

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Namibian Police Honour Medal

[stefan9633]

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Pro Patria Medal (also a South African medal)

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Police Service Award Silver

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Police Service Award Bronze

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Namibian Police Reserve Long Service Medal

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South West Africa Lion Medal

[stefan9633]

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SWA Police Star for Merit

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SWA Police Star for Faithful Service

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SWA Police Star for Faithful Service (dont know if these are just different classes)

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SWA Police Medal for Faithful Service

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SWA Police Star for Exemplary Service

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SAW Police Star for Distinguished Service

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SWA Police inception Medal

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SWA Police Star for Outstanding Service

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Most Brilliant Order of the Sun

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Most Distinguished Order of Namibia

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Order of the Most Ancient Welwitchia Mirablis

[stefan9633]

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Most Excellent Order of the Eagle

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SWA Prisons Incepception Medal

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SWA Prisons Long Service Medal Bronze

[stefan9633]

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SWA Prisons Long Service Medal Silver

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SWA Prisons Long Service Medal Gold

[stefan9633]

The one thing about the Namibian Government I liked was the fact that they didnt immediately ride out and change their awards.

If you look at the Police Service Medals and Stars for example, it is the exact same medal! They only changed the ribbon.

I personally think this was a very visible way for them to honor those men who had earned those medals

and not take away their pride in wearing what was now "technically" a "bad" award.

I tip my hat to those guys.

If anybody could help me in finding these medals order of precedence, as well as any other medals it would be greatly appreciated.

Edited July 22, 2006 by stefan9633

[stefan9633]

There you go Megan, hope these help out.

[Ed_Haynes]

Thanks for these. As for almost all of sub-Saharan Africa, we know so little, need to know so much!

[Paul R]

Thank you for posting this collection of rarely seen medals. Are these still in use today?

Paul

[stefan9633]

Well, as far as i know some of these are still in use.

My files have gotten mixed up and i cant separate the old South-West Africa medals from the new Namibian medals yet. I have noticed though that the Namibian government have only made cosmetic changes chiefly by changing the ribbons. So there are some medals that are still being used, just with different ribbons, and even those are minor changes sometimes just changing the colours and not the design of the ribbon.

[Chris Boonzaier]

A few are a bit Gaudy... but still better than modern Australian ;-)

[Ed_Haynes]

Gaudy? As compared to what? Design standards died along about 1919.

Case in point: the new US Army Sea Service Ribbon.

This is not a joke (well, it is, but it isn't).

[Paul R]

Too Funny! It is almost like the Navy having a Sand Service Ribbon!

[Antonio Prieto]

REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE AWARD OF DECORATIONS AND MEDALS TO MEMBERS OF THE NAMIBIAN POLICE FORCE:
POLICE ACT, 1990
WHEREAS the President has under section 30 of the Police Act, 1990 (Act No. 19 of 1990), established and introduced decorations and medals, as well as bars, clasps and ribbons in respect of such decorations and medals, which may be awarded by the President, subject to the prescribed conditions, to persons who are or were members of the Namibian Police Force in respect of their services as such members or to persons who have rendered exceptional services to the Namibian Police Force, as follows in order of precedence:
Namibian Police Cross of Honour (CH)
Namibian Police Cross for Bravery (CB)
Decoration for Outstanding Meritorious Service of the Highest Order (OMS)
Decoration for Outstanding Meritorious Service and Utmost Devotion to Duty (DSD)
Commendation Medal
Campaign Medal
Medal of Honour
Wound Medal
Namibian Police Service Medal - Gold
Namibian Police Service Medal - Silver
Namibian Police Service Medal - Bronze
Reservist Medal
Honourable Discharge Medal
President’s Shottist Medal

[Antonio Prieto]

The complete REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE AWARD OF DECORATIONS AND MEDALS TO MEMBERS OF THE NAMIBIAN POLICE FORCE http://www.saflii.org/na/other/NAGovGaz/2003/104.pdf

[Megan]

Thank you

[JDM]

The above listed (from Stefan) "Defence Force Order of Merit", is in fact THE ORDER OF THE MUKOROB (for meritorious service in the defence forces),

it is also called "The Military Order".

It is awarded in 6 classes, Grand Commander with Post-Nominals of (G.C.M.), Grand Officer (G.O.M.), Commander (C.M.),

Officer (O.M.), Knight (K.M.), and Member (without Post-Nominals).

It ranks after The Most Excellent Order of the Eagle and before The Most Distinguished Order of Namibia.

Source: "Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia (No. 1048)" signed into law, by President Sam Nujoma, on 16th March, 1995

and published 17th March, 1995.

[Antonio Prieto]

[Megan]

President Jonathan wearing Grand Commander of the Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis.

I believe the lady in the blue dress is his wife.

I can only find references to a Grand Commander of this order, so am not sure if it is a one-class order - as it seems to be for the President of Namibia and other heads of state it may well be. Yet references often refer to Grand Commander as the 'First Class' - why say that if there are no others?

Edited August 14, 2014 by Megan

[Megan]

I have also found this badge:

Now this says 'Order of the Sea Eagle' but looks very like the Order of the Eagle shown on the previous page. Perhaps it's the same order?

No idea what class it's supposed to be, but it was made by Spink & is hallmarked 1995 - it's from the DNW website, dear souls have given me the run of their catalogues

[peter monahan]

Megan

I'd say, speaking from a position of near total ignorance, that the Order of the Eagle and the Order of the Sea eagle are very likley one and the same. This illustration is perhaps a lower grade than the one pictured on page 1, but two virtually identical/identical orders seems odd to me.

[ilja559]

General Joseph Hatutale Kakoto

More photo

[peter monahan]

Great photos!  Is it just me, or is there a certain 'Soviet' air to the cut and style of the uniforms and the look of many of the medals?