# South African military decorations order of wearing

The first South African military medal was a campaign medal, the South Africa Medal, instituted in 1854 by Queen Victoria, the sovereign of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, for award to officers and men of the Royal Navy and British Army who served on the Eastern Frontier of the Cape Colony between 1834 and 1853 during the Xhosa Wars.
Five more South African campaign medals were instituted during the Colonial era until 1910, when the Union of South Africa was established as a dominion of the British Empire. After Union and until 1952, members of the Union Defence Forces (UDF) could be awarded decorations and medals of the British Empire and, from 1949, the British Commonwealth. A number of purely South African decorations and medals were also instituted during this period, such as belated awards for Boer forces who fought in the Second Boer War, a Union commemorative medal and South African versions of some Empire medals with bilingual inscriptions in English and Dutch or Afrikaans.
The first purely South African military orders, decorations and medals were instituted in 1952 by Elizabeth II, the Queen of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms. From 1961 decorations and medals were instituted by the South African State President and, between 1976 and 1994, also by the Presidents of the TBVC States, Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei. These awards were instituted in seven groups for the seven separate military and para-military forces which were integrated into the South African National Defence Force in 1994.

## The South African military

The Union of South Africa was established on 31 May 1910 in terms of the South Africa Act, 1909, enacted by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. In terms of Section 17 of the Act the command-in-chief of the naval and military forces within the Union was vested in the British monarch or in the Governor-General of the Union of South Africa as his representative.
The Union Defence Forces were established in 1912 in terms of the Union Defence Act, no. 13 of 1912, enacted by the Parliament of the Union of South Africa. The UDF were renamed the South African Defence Force (SADF) in 1958. On 27 April 1994 the SADF was integrated with six other independent South African military and para-military forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
The seven constituent forces of the SANDF were:
* The South African Defence Force (SADF).
* The Transkei Defence Force (TDF).
* The Bophuthatswana Defence Force (BDF).
* The Venda Defence Force (VDF).
* The Ciskei Defence Force (CDF).
* Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the military wing of the African National Congress (ANC).
* The Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA), the military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC).

## Orders, decorations and medals

Until 31 May 1961 the Fount of Honour was the British monarch. In 1961 the State President of South Africa became the Fount of Honour. In the TBVC states, established between 1976 and 1981, the Founts of Honour were the respective State Presidents. On 27 April 1994 the President of South Africa became the Fount of Honour for all military orders, decorations and medals.

### The Colonial and Dominion era

Until 1961, at first during the Colonial era and then from 1910 when the Union of South Africa was established, all military decorations and medals which were awarded to members of the Colonial Forces, the UDF and SADF were instituted by the British monarch.

### The 1952–1975 group

The first purely South African military decorations and medals were instituted by the monarch of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms on 6 April 1952 and, from 31 May 1961, by the State President. In 1952 a series of military decorations and medals was instituted by Queen Elizabeth II, consisting of substitutes for many of the British and Commonwealth awards which had been used until then. There were initially ten awards, to which a further eight as well as an emblem for being mentioned in dispatches were added between 1953 and 1970. All displayed the national coat of arms on the reverse, with the exception of the Union Medal and the Permanent Force Good Service Medal which had it on the obverse. Those awarded before South Africa became a republic in 1961 had Queen Elizabeth II's royal cipher above the coat of arms on the reverse.

### The 1975–2003 group

During the limited representation Republican era, in July 1975, the military decorations and medals of the Republic were revised. Seven decorations and medals were carried over from the earlier series of 1952–1975 and, along with the Order of the Star of South Africa with decorations in two military and five non-military classes, thirteen new awards were instituted. They were followed by another eleven new decorations and medals between 1987 and 1991. With the exception of the Pro Virtute Decoration, the trio of Good Service Medals and the National Cadet Bisley Grand Champion Medal, all displayed the national coat of arms on the reverse.

### The TBVC group

Between 1976 and 1981 the four independent republics of Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei, known collectively as the TBVC states, were established within South Africa. Each of them instituted a set of military decorations and medals for award to members of their respective defence forces.

### The MK and APLA group

On 27 April 1994 South Africa became a fully representative republic. In 1996 a set of decorations and medals were instituted for award to members and veterans of MK and APLA.

### The 2003 group

Finally, all but one of these earlier awards were discontinued in respect of services performed on or after 27 April 2003, when a new set of nine decorations and medals was instituted to replace them.

## Order of wear

Until 5 April 1952 all South African, other Commonwealth and foreign orders, decorations and medals awarded to South Africans were worn in the order of wear as prescribed by the British Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood.
With effect from 6 April 1952 the aforementioned awards continued to be worn in the order of wear as prescribed on 5 April 1952 but, with one exception, took precedence after all South African orders, decorations and medals awarded to South Africans on or after that date. The exception was the Victoria Cross which, if awarded to a South African before 6 April 1952, still took precedence before all other awards.

### Sorting keys

The table below lists all the South African military orders, decorations and medals in the official order of wear. All the table columns are sortable and the two columns for order of wear, "OoW 2003" and "OoW 1993", will sort the awards in either the combined order of wear which became effective on 27 April 2003, or in the individual orders of wear of the seven constituent forces which were integrated into the SANDF on 27 April 1994.
Most decorations for gallantry, distinguished and meritorious service and exceptional devotion to duty entitle the recipients to use the post-nominal letters as shown in the "PN" column of the table. These are succeeded, in order, by campaign medals in order of date of campaign, commemoration medals in order of date of institution, decorations and medals for efficiency, long service and good conduct, medals for skill at arms and proficiency in musketry, pre-1952 British era decorations and medals, and awards for voluntary and unremunerated service.
| Order, Decoration or Medal | PN | Type | From | To |
| Victoria Cross | VC | Bravery | 1856 | 1952 |
| Honoris Crux Gold | HCG | Bravery | 1975 | 1992 |
| Gold Star for Bravery | GSB | Bravery | 1996 | 2003 |
| Star for Bravery in Gold | SBG | Bravery | 1996 | 2003 |
| Nkwe ya Gauta | NG | Bravery | 2003 | |
| Star of South Africa, Gold | SSA | Merit | 1975 | 2002 |
| Star of South Africa, Silver | SSAS | Merit | 1975 | 2002 |
| Order of the Leopard, Military Division, Commander | | Merit | 1992 | 1994 |
| Star of South Africa | SSA | Merit | 1952 | 1975 |
| Louw Wepener Decoration | LWD | Bravery | 1952 | 1975 |
| Distinguished Gallantry Cross | | Bravery | 1982 | 1994 |
| Gallantry Cross, Gold | GCG | Bravery | 1985 | 1994 |
| Honoris Crux (1952) | HC | Bravery | 1952 | 1975 |
| Honoris Crux Silver | HCS | Bravery | 1975 | 2003 |
| Van Riebeeck Decoration | DVR | Bravery | 1952 | 1975 |
| Honoris Crux (1975) | HC | Bravery | 1975 | 2003 |
| Gallantry Cross, Silver | GCS | Bravery | 1985 | 1994 |
| Cross for Bravery | | Bravery | 1994 | 1994 |
| Bravery Star in Silver | BSS | Bravery | 1996 | 2003 |
| Star for Bravery in Silver | SBS | Bravery | 1996 | 2003 |
| Nkwe ya Selefera | NS | Bravery | 2003 | |
| Pro Virtute Decoration | PVD | Bravery | 1987 | 2003 |
| Southern Cross Decoration | SD | Merit | 1975 | 2003 |
| Pro Merito Decoration | PMD | Merit | 1975 | 2003 |
| Conspicuous Leadership Star | CLS | Bravery | 1996 | 2003 |
| Star for Conspicuous Leadership | SCL | Bravery | 1996 | 2003 |
| Defence Force Merit Decoration | | Merit | 1982 | 1994 |
| Distinguished Service Medal, Gold | | Merit | 1985 | 1994 |
| Sandile Decoration | SD | Merit | 1988 | 1994 |
| Decoration for Merit in Gold | DMG | Merit | 1996 | 2003 |
| Gold Decoration for Merit | GDM | Merit | 1996 | 2003 |
| iPhrothiya yeGolide | PG | Merit | 2003 | |
| Van Riebeeck Medal | VRM | Bravery | 1952 | 1975 |
| Louw Wepener Medal | LWM | Bravery | 1967 | 1975 |
| Distinguished Gallantry Medal | | Bravery | 1982 | 1994 |
| Nkwe ya Boronse | NB | Bravery | 2003 | |
| Ad Astra Decoration | AAD | Bravery | 1991 | 2003 |
| Army Cross | CM | Bravery | 1987 | 2003 |
| Air Force Cross | CA | Bravery | 1987 | 2003 |
| Navy Cross | CN | Bravery | 1987 | 2003 |
| Medical Service Cross | CC | Bravery | 1987 | 2003 |
| Southern Cross Medal (1952) | SM | Merit | 1952 | 1975 |
| Pro Merito Medal (1967) | PMM | Merit | 1967 | 1975 |
| Distinguished Service Medal, Silver | | Merit | 1985 | 1994 |
| Southern Cross Medal (1975) | SM | Merit | 1975 | 2003 |
| Pro Merito Medal (1975) | PMM | Merit | 1975 | 2003 |
| Defence Force Merit Medal | | Merit | 1982 | 1994 |
| Sandile Medal | SM | Merit | 1988 | 1994 |
| Marumo Medal, Class I | | Merit | 1988 | 1994 |
| Merit Medal in Silver | MMS | Merit | 1996 | 2003 |
| Silver Medal for Merit | SMM | Merit | 1996 | 2003 |
| iPhrothiya yeSiliva | PS | Merit | 2003 | |
| Danie Theron Medal | DTM | Merit | 1970 | 1993 |
| Jack Hindon Medal | JHM | Merit | 1970 | 1975 |
| Military Merit Medal | MMM | Merit | 1974 | 2003 |
| Defence Force Commendation Medal | | Merit | 1982 | 1994 |
| Venda Defence Force Medal | | Merit | 1984 | 1994 |
| Marumo Medal, Class II | | Merit | 1988 | 1994 |
| Transkei Defence Force Medal | | Merit | 1994 | 1994 |
| Bronze Medal for Merit | BMM | Merit | 1996 | 2003 |
| Merit Medal in Bronze | MMB | Merit | 1996 | 2003 |
| iPhrothiya yeBhronzi | PB | Merit | 2003 | |
| Chief C.D.F. Commendation Medal | | Merit | 1992 | 1994 |
| Korea Medal | | Campaign | 1953 | |
| Pro Patria Medal | | Campaign | 1974 | 1994 |
| General Service Medal (Venda) | | Campaign | 1985 | 1994 |
| Southern Africa Medal | | Campaign | 1987 | 1994 |
| General Service Medal (South Africa) | | Campaign | 1987 | 2003 |
| Ciskei Defence Medal | | Campaign | 1988 | 1994 |
| Nkwe Medal | | Campaign | 1990 | 1994 |
| General Service Medal (Bophuthatswana) | | Campaign | 1991 | 1994 |
| Operational Medal for Southern Africa | | Campaign | 1998 | 2003 |
| South Africa Service Medal | | Campaign | 1998 | 2003 |
| Tshumelo Ikatelaho | | Campaign | 2003 | |
| Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal | | Commem. | 1953 | 1953 |
| Independence Medal (Transkei) | | Commem. | 1976 | 1976 |
| Independence Medal (Bophuthatswana) | | Commem. | 1977 | 1977 |
| Independence Medal (Venda) | | Commem. | 1979 | 1979 |
| Independence Medal (Ciskei) | | Commem. | 1981 | 1981 |
| Military Rule Medal | | Commem. | 1994 | 1994 |
| Unitas Medal | | Commem. | 1994 | 1994 |
| Closure Commemoration Medal | | Commem. | 2003 | |
| Medalje vir Troue Diens and Bar, 50 years | | Service | 2003 | |
| Medal for Distinguished Conduct and Loyal Service | | Service | 1987 | 2003 |
| Medalje vir Troue Diens and Bar, 40 years | | Service | 2003 | |
| Good Service Medal, Gold | | Service | 1975 | 2003 |
| Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Gold | | Service | 1982 | 1994 |
| Long Service Medal, Gold | | Service | 1985 | 1994 |
| Gold Service Medal | | Service | 1996 | 2003 |
| Service Medal in Gold | | Service | 1996 | 2003 |
| Medalje vir Troue Diens and Bar, 30 years | | Service | 2003 | |
| John Chard Decoration | JCD | Service | 1952 | 2003 |
| De Wet Decoration | DWD | Service | 1965 | 2003 |
| Cadet Corps Medal | | Service | 1966 | 1986 |
| Good Service Medal, Silver | | Service | 1975 | 2003 |
| Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Silver | | Service | 1982 | 1994 |
| Long Service Medal, Silver | | Service | 1985 | 1994 |
| Service Medal in Silver | | Service | 1996 | 2003 |
| Silver Service Medal | | Service | 1996 | 2003 |
| Medalje vir Troue Diens and Bar, 20 years | RD ♠ | Service | 2003 | |
| Union Medal | | Service | 1952 | 1961 |
| Permanent Force Good Service Medal | | Service | 1961 | 1975 |
| John Chard Medal | | Service | 1952 | 2003 |
| Good Service Medal, Bronze | | Service | 1975 | 2003 |
| Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Bronze | | Service | 1982 | 1994 |
| Long Service Medal, Bronze | | Service | 1985 | 1994 |
| De Wet Medal | | Service | 1987 | 2003 |
| Faithful Service Medal | | Service | 1987 | 1994 |
| Medal for Long Service, Bronze | | Service | 1988 | 1994 |
| Bronze Service Medal | | Service | 1996 | 2003 |
| Service Medal in Bronze | | Service | 1996 | 2003 |
| Medalje vir Troue Diens | | Service | 2003 | |
| Queen's Medal for Champion Shots in the Military Forces | | Bisley | 1924 | 1961 |
| Commandant General's Medal | | Bisley | 1965 | 1975 |
| SADF Champion Shot Medal | | Bisley | 1975 | 2003 |
| National Cadet Bisley Grand Champion Medal | | Bisley | 1987 | |
| President's Medal for Shooting | | Bisley | 1988 | 1994 |
| State President's Medal for Shooting | | Bisley | 1990 | 1994 |
| Dekoratie voor Trouwe Dienst | DTD | Merit | 1920 | 1946 |
| Distinguished Service Order | DSO | Bravery | 1886 | 1952 |
| Distinguished Service Cross | DSC | Bravery | 1901 | 1952 |
| Military Cross | MC | Bravery | 1914 | 1952 |
| Distinguished Flying Cross | DFC | Bravery | 1918 | 1952 |
| Air Force Cross | AFC | Bravery | 1918 | 1952 |
| Distinguished Conduct Medal | DCM | Bravery | 1854 | 1952 |
| Distinguished Conduct Medal (Natal) | DCM | Bravery | 1897 | 1913 |
| Conspicuous Gallantry Medal | CGM | Bravery | 1874 | 1952 |
| Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying) | CGM | Bravery | 1943 | 1952 |
| Distinguished Service Medal | DSM | Bravery | 1914 | 1952 |
| Military Medal | MM | Bravery | 1916 | 1952 |
| Distinguished Flying Medal | DFM | Bravery | 1918 | 1952 |
| Air Force Medal | AFM | Bravery | 1918 | 1952 |
| British Empire Medal (Military) | BEM | Merit | 1922 | 1952 |
| South Africa Medal (1853) | | Campaign | 1854 | |
| South Africa Medal (1880) | | Campaign | 1880 | |
| Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal | | Campaign | 1900 | |
| Queen's South Africa Medal | | Campaign | 1900 | |
| Medalje voor de Anglo-Boere Oorlog | | Campaign | 1920 | 1982 |
| Lint voor Verwonding | | Campaign | 1920 | 1949 |
| King's South Africa Medal | | Campaign | 1902 | |
| Natal Native Rebellion Medal | | Campaign | 1907 | |
| 1914–15 Star | | Campaign | 1918 | |
| British War Medal | | Campaign | 1919 | |
| Mercantile Marine War Medal | | Campaign | 1919 | |
| Victory Medal (South Africa) | | Campaign | 1919 | |
| 1939–1945 Star | | Campaign | 1943 | |
| Atlantic Star | | Campaign | 1945 | |
| Arctic Star | | Campaign | 2012 | |
| Air Crew Europe Star | | Campaign | 1945 | |
| Africa Star | | Campaign | 1943 | |
| Pacific Star | | Campaign | 1945 | |
| Burma Star | | Campaign | 1945 | |
| Italy Star | | Campaign | 1945 | |
| France and Germany Star | | Campaign | 1945 | |
| Defence Medal (United Kingdom) | | Campaign | 1945 | |
| War Medal 1939–1945 | | Campaign | 1945 | |
| Africa Service Medal | | Campaign | 1943 | |
| King George V Coronation Medal | | Commem. | 1911 | 1911 |
| King George V Silver Jubilee Medal | | Commem. | 1935 | 1935 |
| King George VI Coronation Medal | | Commem. | 1937 | 1937 |
| Meritorious Service Medal (United Kingdom) | MSM ♥ | Gallantry | 1916 | 1928 |
| Meritorious Service Medal (Cape of Good Hope) | | Service | 1896 | 1913 |
| Meritorious Service Medal (Natal) | | Service | 1897 | 1913 |
| Meritorious Service Medal (South Africa) | | Service | 1914 | 1939 |
| Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Cape) | | Service | 1896 | 1910 |
| Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Natal) | | Service | 1897 | 1910 |
| Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Medal | | Service | 1910 | 1930 |
| Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (South Africa) | | Service | 1930 | 1952 |
| Volunteer Officers' Decoration for India and the Colonies | VD | Service | 1894 | 1899 |
| Volunteer Long Service Medal for India and the Colonies | | Service | 1896 | 1899 |
| Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration | VD | Service | 1899 | 1930 |
| Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal | | Service | 1899 | 1930 |
| Efficiency Decoration (South Africa) | ED | Service | 1930 | 1952 |
| Efficiency Medal (South Africa) | | Service | 1930 | 1952 |
| Decoration for Officers of the R.N.V.R. | VRD | Service | 1915 | 1952 |
| R.N.V.R. Long Service and Good Conduct Medal | | Service | 1915 | 1952 |
| Air Efficiency Award | AE ♣ | Service | 1942 | 1952 |
| Union of South Africa Commemoration Medal | | Commem. | 1910 | 1911 |
| South African Medal for War Services | | Volunteer | 1945 | |
| Sir Harry Smith's Medal for Gallantry | | Unofficial | 1851 | |
| Johannesburg Vrijwilliger Corps Medal | | Unofficial | 1899 | |
| Kimberley Star | | Unofficial | 1900 | |
| Cape Copper Company Medal for the Defence of O'okiep | | Unofficial | 1902 | |

### Notes

* ♠ In respect of recipients of the Emblem for Reserve Force Service only, indicating "Reserve Distinction".
* ♥ Use of the post-nominal MSM was restricted to awards for acts of gallantry during the First World War.
* ♣ Use of the post-nominal AE was restricted to officers only.

## Errors and exclusions

The official order of wear of 2005 contains the caveat that, in the absence of full information on some awards, there may be among the awards listed for the TBVC states some which were never awarded. The official list contains minor errors, one of these being the post-nominal letters "VRD" instead of "DVR" for the Van Riebeeck Decoration. The post-nominal letters "VRD" are used for the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Decoration.
The following decorations and medals are excluded from the table:
* Civil, police, prisons and other non-military decorations and medals.
* Military decorations which, while officially instituted, were never awarded and now never will be. These include:
** The Castle of Good Hope Decoration (CGH) (South Africa).
** The Honoris Crux Diamond (HCD) (South Africa).
** The Pro Virtute Medal (PVM) (South Africa).
** The Cross for Valour (CCV) (Ciskei).
** The Cross for Gallantry (CCG) (Ciskei).
** The Cross for Bravery (CCB) (Ciskei).
** The Pro Merito Decoration (PMD) (Ciskei).