General Service Medal (South Africa): Difference between revisions
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| General Service Medal | |
|---|---|
| File:General Service Medal.jpg | |
| Type | Military campaign medal |
| Country |  South Africa South Africa |
| Eligibility | All Ranks |
| Campaign(s) | 1985-1990 State of Emergency |
| Status | Discontinued |
| Established | 1989 |
.gif) Ribbon bar | |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Southern Africa Medal [1] |
| Next (lower) | Unitas Medal [1] |
The General Service Medal was a South African military campaign medal. It was instituted in 1989 and was awarded to members of the South African Defence Force from 1 January 1983 for operational service inside South Africa in the prevention or suppression of terrorism or internal disorder, or the preservation of life, health or property, or the maintenance of essential services and law and order, or crime prevention.[2]
The South African military
The Union of South Africa was established on 31 May 1910, in terms of the South Africa Act. The Act made provision for the establishment of the Union Defence Forces (UDF), which took place in 1912 in terms of the Union Defence Act (No 13 of 1912). The UDF were renamed the South African Defence Force (SADF) in 1958. In 1994 it was amalgamated with six other independent forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).[3][4]
Orders, decorations and medals
In April 1952 a series of military orders, decorations and medals was established, consisting of substitutes for many of the British and Commonwealth awards which had earlier been used. There were initially ten awards, to which a further eight were added between 1953 and 1970. With one exception, all displayed the national Coat of Arms on the reverse, and those minted before the country became a republic in 1961 had Queen Elizabeth II's royal cipher above the arms.[3]
Until 1958 the top three awards were reserved for conferment by the Queen while the rest were awarded by the Governor-General, but in 1958 the Governor-General was authorised to also award the top three. In 1961 the State President became the awarding authority for all military orders, decorations and medals, and in 1994 the President.[3]
In July 1975 the military orders, decorations and medals of the Republic were revised. Seven decorations and medals were carried over from the earlier series of 1952-1975 and fourteen new awards were instituted, followed by another twelve new decorations and medals between 1987 and 1991.[1][2]
From the outset all military orders, decorations and medals were minted by the South African Mint, but c. 1980 the manufacture of all new awards as well as the further production of older awards were put out to tender by private enterprises.
Award criteria for the General Service Medal
The General Service Medal was awarded from 1 January 1983 to serving members of all ranks of the South African Defence Force for operational service inside South Africa in the prevention or suppression of terrorism or internal disorder, or the preservation of life, health or property, or the maintenance of essential services and law and order, or crime prevention. In effect it also served as a campaign medal for the State of Emergency operations against Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) and the Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA) from 1985 to 1990.[2]
Description
- Obverse
An medallion struck in nickel silver, 3 millimetres thick and 38 millimetres in diameter, depicting the castle emblem of the South African Defence Force, partly surrounded by a wreath of leaves.[2]
- Reverse
The pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms with the words "GENERAL SERVICE" at left and "ALGEMENE DIENS" at right, with the medal number stamped underneath.[5]
- Ribbon
32 millimetres wide with a 6 millimetres wide dark blue band, a 2 millimetres wide white band and a 7 millimetres wide orange band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 2 millimetres wide dark blue band in the centre.[5]
Mentioned in dispatches
A recipient of the General Service Medal that was mentioned in dispatches during such operational service inside South Africa was entitled to wear a miniature Coat of Arms on the medal ribbon.[2]
Discontinuation
The conferment of the medal was discontinued in respect of services performed on or after 27 April 2003.[6]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Suid-Afrikaanse militêre dekorasies: 1975-2003
- ^ a b c d e South African Medals Website - SA Defence Force : 1975-2003
- ^ a b c South African Medals Website - SA Defence Force : 1952-1975
- ^ The South African Railways - Historical Survey. Editor George Hart, Publisher Bill Hart, Sponsored by Dorbyl Ltd., Published c. 1978, p. 25.
- ^ a b General Service Medal picture
- ^ Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 457, no. 25213, Pretoria, 25 July 2003
