South African military decorations
From 1894, the colonial governments awarded medals for distinguished conduct and for long service.Its largest component was a series of military decorations and medals, which not only replaced the existing long service medals, but provided substitutes for the decorations which the British government had awarded in wartime: A new system was introduced in 1975.Innovations included a hierarchy of merit awards, cumulative long service medals, and colour-coded ribbons.In 1996, two separate sets of decorations were instituted for veterans who had served in the Azanian People's Liberation Army and Umkhonto we Sizwe during the armed campaign against the former government.The South African National Defence Force, which was formed in 1994 by amalgamating the SADF, the liberation armies, and the military forces of the former homelands, used the SADF decorations and medals until 2003, when a new series of decorations was instituted:
South African honours systemBritishBritish EmpireColonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' DecorationDistinguished Conduct MedalDistinguished Conduct Medal (Natal)Cape of Good Hope General Service MedalNatal Native Rebellion MedalMeritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service Medal (Cape of Good Hope)Meritorious Service Medal (Natal)Army Long Service and Good Conduct MedalArmy Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Cape of Good Hope)Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Natal)Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas MedalVolunteer Long Service Medal for India and the ColoniesColonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service MedalUnion Defence ForcesWorld War IWorld War IIVictory MedalAfrica Service MedalMedal for Long Service and Good Conduct (Military)Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (South Africa)Efficiency DecorationEfficiency MedalAnglo-Boer WarDekoratie voor Trouwe DienstSouth African Republic & Orange Free State War MedalWounds RibbonCastle of Good Hope DecorationLouw Wepener DecorationStar of South AfricaVan Riebeeck DecorationHonoris Crux (1952)Van Riebeeck MedalLouw Wepener MedalSouthern Cross Medal (1952)Pro Merito Medal (1967)Danie Theron MedalJack Hindon MedalKorea MedalQueen Elizabeth II Coronation MedalUnion MedalPermanent Force Good Service MedalJohn Chard DecorationDe Wet DecorationJohn Chard MedalCadet Corps MedalQueen's Medal for Champion ShotsCommandant General's MedalMentioned in dispatchesSouth West AfricaAngolaArthur WalkerSouthern Cross MedalPro Patria MedalSouthern Africa MedalGeneral Service Medal (South Africa)Good Service Medal, BronzeZimbabwean Independence MedalGeneral Service Medal (Rhodesia)United NationsHonoris Crux DiamondHonoris Crux GoldStar of South Africa, GoldStar of South Africa, SilverHonoris Crux SilverHonoris Crux (1975)Pro Virtute DecorationSouthern Cross DecorationPro Merito DecorationPro Virtute MedalAd Astra DecorationArmy CrossAir Force CrossNavy CrossMedical Service CrossSouthern Cross Medal (1975)Pro Merito Medal (1975)Military Merit MedalGeneral Service MedalUnitas MedalMedal for Distinguished Conduct and Loyal ServiceGood Service Medal, GoldGood Service Medal, SilverDe Wet MedalSADF Champion Shot MedalCadet Corps Champion Shot MedalAzanian People's Liberation ArmyUmkhonto we SizweGold Star for BraveryBravery Star in SilverStar for Conspicuous LeadershipGold Decoration for MeritSilver Medal for MeritBronze Medal for MeritOperational Medal for Southern AfricaSouth Africa Service MedalGold Service MedalSilver Service MedalBronze Service MedalStar for Bravery in GoldStar for Bravery in SilverConspicuous Leadership StarDecoration for Merit in GoldMerit Medal in SilverMerit Medal in BronzeService Medal in GoldService Medal in SilverService Medal in BronzeSouth African National Defence ForceNkwe ya GautaNkwe ya SeleferaNkwe ya BoronseiPhrothiya yeGolideiPhrothiya yeSilivaiPhrothiya yeBhronziTshumelo Ikatelaho (General Service Medal)Commando Closure Commemoration MedalMedalje vir Troue Diens (Medal for Loyal Service)Orders, decorations, and medals of South AfricaBritish and Commonwealth orders and decorationsSouth African civil honoursSouth African intelligence service decorationsSouth African orders and decorations