Closure Commemoration Medal

Last updated

Closure Commemoration Medal
Closure Commemoration Medal.jpg
TypeMilitary commemorative medal
Awarded forCommemoration of the disbandment of the Commandos
CountryFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Presented bythe President
EligibilityCommando members
Clasps COMMANDOS
StatusCurrent
Established2010
First awarded2011
Ribbon - Closure Commemoration Medal.png
Ribbon bar
Order of wear
Next (higher) Flag of South Africa.svg Unitas Medal
Next (lower) Flag of South Africa.svg Medalje vir Troue Diens and Bar, 50 years

The Closure Commemoration Medal is a military commemoration medal which was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa in 2010, to commemorate the disbandment of the Commandos, the rural defence component of the South African National Defence Force. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

The South African military

The Union Defence Forces (UDF) were established in 1912 and renamed the South African Defence Force (SADF) in 1958. It consisted of three components, the full-time Permanent Force, the part-time Citizen Force and the rural defence Commandos. On 27 April 1994, the SADF was integrated with six other independent forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). [4] [5]

Institution

The 183 South African Commando units, consisting of 52,000 serving members, were disbanded in 2003 and members were given the opportunity to join the conventional Citizen Force Regiments or the Sector Policing Forums of the South African Police Service, or to demobilise. The Closure Commemoration Medal was instituted by the President in 2010 to commemorate the disbandment of the Commandos. [1] [2] [3] [6]

Award criteria

The medal could be awarded to Officers, Warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Other Ranks who have served in the Commandos, as well as to the Honorary Colonels, who had completed at least five years service on or after 27 April 2003. The first medals were presented to former Commando members on 30 November 2011. [2] [3]

Order of wear

The Closure Commemoration Medal was instituted subsequent to the publication of the most recent revision of the "South African Consolidated Official Table of Precedence : Orders, Decorations and Medals" on 11 March 2005. As a newly instituted commemoration medal, its logical position in the order of precedence is between the lowest ranked commemoration award and the highest ranked award for loyal service and good conduct. [7]

UNMlint.gif Ribbon - Closure Commemoration Medal.png MTDlint.gif

Description

Obverse

The Closure Commemoration Medal is a medallion struck in nickel-silver, 38 millimetres in diameter and 3 millimetres thick at the rim, displaying three stacked .303 Lee–Enfield rifles within a wreath of proteas. [1] [3] [8]

Reverse

The reverse displays the embellished Coat of arms of South Africa above a bar bearing the stamped medal number and, around the perimeter, the inscriptions "CLOSURE COMMEMORATION MEDAL" at left, "SLUITINGSGEDENKMEDALJE" at right and "MEDALE WA KGOTSO WA MATSWALELAKGORO" below. [1] [8]

Clasp
Ribbon - Closure Commemoration Medal & Clasp.png

A clasp inscribed "COMMANDOS" was instituted along with the medal, to be worn on the medal ribbon. It was struck in nickel-silver and has a hole at each end to allow it to be sewn onto the medal ribbon.

Ribbon

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and green, with a 12 millimetres wide yellow band in the centre. The green and yellow colours have their origin in the ribbon colours of the three awards which were belatedly instituted in 1920, as retrospective awards for Boer veteran officers and men of the Second Boer War of 1899–1902, the Dekoratie voor Trouwe Dienst, the Medalje voor de Anglo-Boere Oorlog and the Lint voor Verwonding. For these three awards, these two colours had been gazetted as green and orange, but the orange appeared as yellow on the actual ribbons. [1] [8]

Discontinuation

Conferment of the Closure Commemoration Medal has not yet been discontinued and qualifying ex-members may still apply.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medalje vir Troue Diens</span> Award

The Medalje vir Troue Diens - Medal for Loyal Service was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa on 16 April 2003 and came into effect on 27 April 2003. It can be awarded to all ranks whose character and conduct have been irreproachable and who have completed ten years of qualifying service.

An overview of South African military decorations and medals, which form part of the South African honours system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dekoratie voor Trouwe Dienst</span> South African military decoration for Boer officers of the Second Boer War

The Dekoratie voor Trouwe Dienst, post-nominal letters DTD, is a South African military decoration. It was instituted in 1920 as a retrospective award for Boer officers of the 1899–1902 Second Boer War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danie Theron Medal</span> Military decoration of the Republic of South Africa

The Danie Theron Medal, post-nominal letters DTM, is a military decoration which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1970 and which was in use until 1993. It was awarded for diligent service in the Commandos, the rural defence component of the South African Defence Force. Originally reserved for officers, it was available to all ranks from 1975.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Hindon Medal</span> Award

The Jack Hindon Medal, post-nominal letters JHM, is a South African military decoration which was instituted in the Republic of South Africa in 1970 and which was only in use until 1975. It was awarded to other ranks for diligent service in the Commandos, the rural defence component of the South African Defence Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Permanent Force Good Service Medal</span> Award

The Permanent Force Good Service Medal was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1961, when South Africa became a republic, to replace the Union Medal. It was awarded to Permanent Force members of the South African Defence Force for eighteen years of service and good conduct.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Chard Decoration</span> Award

The John Chard Decoration, post-nominal letters JCD, was a military long service decoration which was instituted by the Union of South Africa on 6 April 1952. It was awarded to members of the Citizen Force of the South African Defence Force for twenty years of efficient service and good conduct. Clasps could be awarded after thirty and forty years service respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">De Wet Decoration</span> Award

The De Wet Decoration, post-nominal letters DWD, is a military long service decoration which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1965. It could be awarded to members of the Commandos, the rural civil defence component of the South African Defence Force, for twenty years of efficient service and good conduct. The decoration was initially reserved for officers, but it was made available to all ranks in 1986. A clasp could be awarded after thirty years service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Chard Medal</span> Award

The John Chard Medal is a military long service medal which was instituted by the Union of South Africa on 6 April 1952. Until 1986, it was awarded to members of the Citizen Force of the South African Defence Force for twelve years of efficient service and good conduct. The period of qualifying service was reduced to ten years in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Cadet Bisley Grand Champion Medal</span> Award

The National Cadet Bisley Grand Champion Medal is a military medal which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1987. Originally named the Cadet Corps Grand Champion Shot Medal, it was awarded to the Grand Champion of the annual National Cadet Bisley of the School Cadet Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medal for Distinguished Conduct and Loyal Service</span> Award

The Medal for Distinguished Conduct and Loyal Service is a South African military medal which was instituted by the Republic in 1987. It was awarded to members of the South African Defence Force for forty years of loyal service and distinguished conduct.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">De Wet Medal</span> Military long service medal in the Republic of South Africa

The De Wet Medal is a military long service medal which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1987. It was awarded to members of the Commandos, the rural defence component of the South African Defence Force, for ten years of efficient service and good conduct.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good Service Medal, Bronze</span> Award

The Good Service Medal, Bronze, originally named the South African Defence Force Good Service Medal, Bronze, is the junior of a set of three South African military medals which was instituted by the Republic on 1 July 1975. It was awarded to members of all elements of the South African Defence Force for ten years of exemplary service, but was restricted to Permanent Force personnel from 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good Service Medal, Silver</span> Award

The Good Service Medal, Silver, originally named the South African Defence Force Good Service Medal, Silver, is the middle member of a set of three military medals which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. It was initially awarded to members of all elements of the South African Defence Force for twenty years of exemplary service, but was restricted to Permanent Force personnel from 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good Service Medal, Gold</span> Award

The Good Service Medal, Gold, originally named the South African Defence Force Good Service Medal, Gold, is the senior of a set of three military medals which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. It was initially awarded to members of all elements of the South African Defence Force for thirty years of exemplary service, but was restricted to Permanent Force personnel from 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Union Medal</span> Award

The Union Medal was instituted by the Union of South Africa in 1952. It was awarded to Permanent Force members of the South African Defence Force for eighteen years of service and good conduct.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unitas Medal</span> Award

The Unitas Medal was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa on 4 November 1994. It was awarded to all ranks who were on the active strength of all seven constituent military forces from 27 April 1994 to 10 May 1994, to commemorate their amalgamation into the South African National Defence Force. It was also awarded to personnel of the British Military Advisory and Training Team which served in South Africa at the time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Service Medal in Gold</span> Award

The Service Medal in Gold was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa in April 1996. It was awarded to veteran cadres of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the African National Congress, for thirty years exemplary service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Service Medal in Bronze</span> Award

The Service Medal in Bronze was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa in April 1996. It was awarded to veteran cadres of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the African National Congress, for ten years service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Silver Service Medal</span> Award

The Silver Service Medal was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa in April 1996. It could be awarded to veteran cadres of the Azanian People's Liberation Army, the military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress, for twenty years exemplary service.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 South African Medal Website - South African National Defence Force (Accessed 1 May 2015)
  2. 1 2 3 61 Mech Battalion Group Veterans Association - RFCA - Closure Commemoration Medal
  3. 1 2 3 4 Chief of the SA Army Honours Former Commando, 30 November 2011
  4. South African Medal Website - SA Defence Force : 1952-1975 (Accessed 30 April 2015)
  5. Warrant of the President of the Republic of South Africa for the Institution of the "UNITAS MEDAL-UNITAS-MEDALJE", Gazette no. 16087 dated 25 November 1994.
  6. Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, OCLC   72827981
  7. 1 2 3 Commando Closure Commemoration Medal with Small Medal Ribbons as new No 8904 Archived 8 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine