De Wet Decoration

Last updated

De Wet Decoration
De Wet Decoration.jpg
TypeMilitary long service decoration
Awarded for20 years loyal service and good conduct
Country Flag of South Africa (1928-1994).svg Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Presented bythe State President and, from 1994, the President
EligibilityMembers of the Commandos
* Officers only from 1965 to 1986
* All ranks after 1986
Post-nominalsDWD
Clasps 30 years service
StatusDiscontinued in 2003
Established1965
DWDlint.gif Ribbon - De Wet Decoration & Button.png
Ribbon bars for 20 and 30 years of service
SADF pre-1994 & SANDF post-2002 orders of wear
Next (higher)
SADF precedence:
SANDF precedence:
Next (lower)
SADF succession:
SANDF succession:

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. [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. On 27 April 1994, it was integrated with six other independent forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). [1] [2] [4]

Institution

The De Wet Decoration, post-nominal letters DWD, was instituted by the State President, C.R. Swart in 1965. It was named after Second Boer War General Christiaan de Wet. The De Wet Decoration was one of only three South African military awards for long service which entitled the recipient to the use of post-nominal letters, the others being the John Chard Decoration (JCD), which was awarded to Citizen Force members, and the defunct Efficiency Decoration (ED). [1] [5]

Award criteria

The decoration could be awarded to officers of the Commandos, the rural civil defence component of the South African Defence Force, for twenty years of efficient service and good conduct. Award of the decoration was made available to all ranks in 1986. [1] [3] [6]

A clasp could be awarded to holders of the De Wet Decoration after 30 years service. When medals are not worn, recipients of the clasp wear a button with the encircled letters "DWD" on the ribbon bar. [2]

Order of wear

The position of the De Wet Decoration in the official order of precedence was revised three times to accommodate the institution or addition of new decorations and medals, first upon the integration into the South African National Defence Force on 27 April 1994, again when decorations and medals were belatedly instituted in April 1996 for the two former non-statutory forces, the Azanian People's Liberation Army and Umkhonto we Sizwe, and again when a new series of military decorations and medals was instituted in South Africa on 27 April 2003, but it remained unchanged on all three occasions. [7] [8]

Ribbon - John Chard Decoration.png DWDlint.gif KKMlint.gif

Official SANDF order of precedence
Official national order of precedence

Description

Obverse

The De Wet Decoration is a medallion, struck in silver, 38 millimetres in diameter and 3 millimetres thick, depicting Second Boer War General Christiaan de Wet on horseback, surrounded by a wreath of proteas and inscribed "DEKORASIE ~ DE WET ~ DECORATION". [1]

Reverse

The reverse has the pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms, with the decoration number impressed or engraved below.

Ribbon

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide, with a 3 millimetres wide green band, a 2 millimetres wide white band and an 8 millimetres wide yellow band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 6 millimetres wide dark blue 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.

Clasp

Ribbon - De Wet Decoration & Clasp v1.png Ribbon - De Wet Decoration & Clasp v2.png

The clasp is in silver, with the encircled letters "DWD" embossed in the centre. Two versions of the clasp exist, the original with the tops and bottoms of the characters "DWD" following the circumference of the circle, and a second version with the bottoms of the characters in line. Members who had been awarded the clasp wear a silver button, 8 millimetres in diameter and inscribed "DWD", on the ribbon bar when medals are not worn.

Discontinuation

Conferment of the De Wet Decoration was discontinued in respect of services performed on or after 27 April 2003. [4] [9]

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honoris Crux (1952)</span> Former South African military decoration

The Honoris Crux of 1952, post-nominal letters HC, is a military decoration for bravery which was instituted by the Union of South Africa in 1952. It was in use from 1952 to 1975 and was awarded to members of the South African Defence Force for gallantry in action against the enemy in the field. It was discontinued on 1 July 1975, when it was replaced by a new set of four Honoris Crux decorations, in four classes.

<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">Lint voor Verwonding</span> South African military campaign award

The Lint voor Verwonding is a South African military campaign award. It was instituted on 21 December 1920 as a retrospective award for Boer veteran officers and men of the 1899–1902 Second Boer War who had been wounded in action.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pro Merito Medal (1967)</span> Award

The Pro Merito Medal of 1967, post-nominal letters PMM, is a military decoration which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1967. It was awarded to other ranks of the South African Defence Force for outstanding devotion to duty and was the non-commissioned officers' version of the Southern Cross Medal of 1952 (SM), which had earlier been available to all ranks.

<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">Efficiency Decoration (South Africa)</span> Award

The Efficiency Decoration (South Africa), post-nominal letters ED, was instituted in 1930 for award to efficient and thoroughly capable part-time officers in the Citizen Force of the Union of South Africa after twenty years of service. The decoration superseded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration.

<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">Cadet Corps Medal</span> Award

The Cadet Corps Medal is a military medal which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1966. It could be awarded to officers in the School Cadet Corps for twenty years efficient service. A clasp could be awarded after 30 years qualifying service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern Cross Medal (1975)</span> South African military meritorious service award

The Southern Cross Medal of 1975, post-nominal letters SM, is a military decoration which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. It was awarded to officers of the South African Defence Force for exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty.

<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">Pro Merito Medal (1975)</span> Discontinued South African military decoration

The Pro Merito Medal of 1975, post-nominal letters PMM, is a military decoration which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. It was awarded to other ranks of the South African Defence Force for exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty, and was the non-commissioned officers' version of the Southern Cross Medal of 1975 (SM).

<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, 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">Closure Commemoration Medal</span> South African military commemoration medal

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.

<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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 South African Medal Website - SA Defence Force : 1952-1975 (Accessed 30 April 2015)
  2. 1 2 3 South African Medal Website - SA Defence Force : 1975-2003 (Accessed 30 April 2015)
  3. 1 2 South African Medal Website - Post-nominal Letters (Accessed 28 April 2015)
  4. 1 2 Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 457, no. 25213, Pretoria, 25 July 2003
  5. Alexander, E.G.M., Barron, G.K.B. and Bateman, A.J. (1986). South African Orders, Decorations and Medals. Human and Rousseau.
  6. 1 2 3 Republic of South Africa Government Gazette no. 15093, Pretoria, 3 September 1993
  7. 1 2 3 Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, OCLC   72827981
  8. Republic of South Africa Government Gazette no. 26778, Pretoria, 17 September 2004