Medal for Distinguished Conduct and Loyal Service

Medal for Distinguished Conduct and Loyal Service
File:Medal for Distinguished Conduct & Loyal Service.jpg
Type	Military long service medal
Country	South Africa South Africa
Eligibility	All ranks
Status	Discontinued in 2003
Established	1987
1987-1994 and 1994-2003 ribbon bars
Precedence
Next (higher)	Unitas Medal
Next (lower)	Good Service Medal (Gold)

The Medal for Distinguished Conduct and Loyal Service was a South African military long service medal that was in use from 1987 to 2003. It was awarded to members of the South African Defence Force for forty years of loyal service and distinguished conduct.

The South African military

The Union of South Africa was established on 31 May 1910, in terms of the South Africa Act. In 1912 the Union Defence Forces (UDF) were established 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).

Orders, decorations and medals

In April 1952 a series of military orders, decorations and medals was instituted, 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 as well as an emblem for being mentioned in dispatches were added between 1953 and 1970.

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.

Awarding authority

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.

Minting

From the outset all military orders, decorations and medals were minted by the South African Mint, but from 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 Medal for Distinguished Conduct and Loyal Service

The Medal for Distinguished Conduct and Loyal Service was instituted in 1987. It was awarded to Permanent Force, Citizen Force and Commando members of the South African Defence Force for forty years of loyal service and distinguished conduct.

Description

Obverse

A medallion struck in 9 carat gold, 38 millimetres in diameter and 3 millimetres thick at the centre, depicting the pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms.

Reverse

The Roman numeral "XL" surrounded by a wreath of leaves, with the medal number stamped or engaved above.

Ribbons

The original ribbon was 32 millimetres wide and green, with a single multicoloured band in the centre consisting of a 1 millimetre wide white band, orange, white and blue bands, all three bands 4 millimetres wide, and a 1 millimetre wide white band. Orange, white and blue are the colours of the pre-1994 national flag. This ribbon was replaced when the new post-1994 national flag was instituted.

The new ribbon was also 32 millimetres wide and green, with a single multicoloured band in the centre consisting of red, white, black, yellow and blue bands, all five bands 2 millimetres wide. Green, red, white, black, yellow and blue are the colours of the new national flag.

Discontinuation

The conferment of the medal was discontinued in respect of services performed on or after 27 April 2003.

See also

• Good Service Medal (Gold)
• Good Service Medal (Silver)
• Good Service Medal (Bronze)
• South African honours system
• South African military decorations