Distinguished Gallantry Medal

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Distinguished Gallantry Medal
BDF Distinguished Gallantry Medal.jpg
Awarded by the State President
Country Flag of Bophuthatswana (1972-1994).svg Bophuthatswana
TypeMilitary decoration for bravery
EligibilityAll Ranks
Awarded forExtraordinary gallantry
StatusDiscontinued in 1994
Statistics
Established1982
BDF pre-1994 & SANDF post-2002 orders of wear
Next (higher)
BDF precedence:
SANDF precedence:
Next (lower)
BDF succession:
SANDF succession:
Ribbon - Distinguished Gallantry Medal.png
Ribbon bar

The Distinguished Gallantry Medal was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1982, for award to all ranks for extraordinary gallantry. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

The Bophuthatswana Defence Force

The Bophuthatswana Defence Force (BDF) was established upon that country's independence on 6 December 1977. The Republic of Bophuthatswana ceased to exist on 27 April 1994 and the Bophuthatswana Defence Force was amalgamated with six other military forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). [4] [5] [6]

Institution

The Distinguished Gallantry Medal was instituted by the State President of Bophuthatswana in 1982. It is the junior award of a set of two decorations for bravery, along with the Distinguished Gallantry Cross. [1] [3] [7]

Bophuthatswana's military decorations and medals were modelled on those of the Republic of South Africa and these two decorations are the approximate equivalents of, respectively, the Louw Wepener Decoration and Louw Wepener Medal. [1]

Award criteria

The medal could be awarded to all ranks for extraordinary gallantry. [1]

Order of wear

Since the Distinguished Gallantry Medal was authorised for wear by one of the statutory forces which came to be part of the South African National Defence Force on 27 April 1994, it was accorded a position in the official South African order of precedence on that date. The position of the Distinguished Gallantry Medal in the official order of precedence was revised on 27 April 2003, to accommodate the institution of a new set of honours. [1] [8]

Bophuthatswana Defence Force until 26 April 1994

Ribbon Defence Force Merit Decoration.png Ribbon - Distinguished Gallantry Medal.png Ribbon - Defence Force Merit Medal.png

South African National Defence Force from 27 April 1994

LWMlint.gif Ribbon - Distinguished Gallantry Medal.png Ad Astra Decoration.jpg

South African National Defence Force from 27 April 2003

LWMlint.gif Ribbon - Distinguished Gallantry Medal.png NBlint.gif

Description

Obverse

The Distinguished Gallantry Medal is a silver-gilt medallion, 38 millimetres in diameter, with a 4 millimetres wide rim and a leopard head on a roundel in the centre, framed in a decorated circle. The suspender is in the shape of buffalo horns. [3] [9]

Reverse

The reverse displays the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.

Ribbon

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and red, with an 8 millimetres wide green band in the centre. [9]

Discontinuation

Conferment of the Distinguished Gallantry Medal was discontinued when the Republic of Bophuthatswana ceased to exist on 27 April 1994. [6]

Related Research Articles

Louw Wepener Decoration

The Louw Wepener Decoration, post-nominal letters LWD, is a military decoration for bravery which was instituted by the Union of South Africa in 1952. It was awarded to members of the South African Defence Force for acts of the most conspicuous courage or greatest heroism. The decoration was discontinued on 1 July 1975, when a new set of decorations and medals was instituted.

Star of South Africa (1952)

The Star of South Africa, post-nominal letters SSA, is a military decoration for merit which was instituted by the Union of South Africa from 1952 to 1975. It was awarded to general and flag officers of the South African Defence Force for exceptionally meritorious service. The Star of South Africa was discontinued on 1 July 1975, when a new set of orders, decorations and medals was instituted.

Van Riebeeck Medal

The Van Riebeeck Medal, post-nominal letters VRM, is a military decoration for bravery which was instituted by the Union of South Africa in 1952. It was awarded to other ranks for distinguished service in the field.

Louw Wepener Medal

The Louw Wepener Medal, post-nominal letters LWM, is a South African military decoration for bravery which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 20 October 1967. It was awarded to members of the South African Defence Force for courageous or heroic deeds in saving lives. The Louw Wepener Medal was discontinued on 1 July 1975, when a new set of decorations and medals was instituted.

Independence Medal (Bophuthatswana)

The Independence Medal was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana to commemorate that country's independence on 6 December 1977. It was awarded to all ranks on the active strength of the Bophuthatswana Defence Force upon independence.

Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Bronze

The Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Bronze was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1982, for award to all ranks as a long service medal for ten years service and good conduct.

Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Silver

The Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Silver was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1982, for award to all ranks as a long service medal for twenty years service and good conduct.

Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Gold

The Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Gold was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1982, for award to all ranks as a long service medal for thirty years service and good conduct.

General Service Medal (Bophuthatswana)

The General Service Medal was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1991, for award to all ranks for operational service inside Bophuthatswana.

Nkwe Medal

The Nkwe Medal was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1990, for award to all ranks for operational service.

Marumo Medal, Class I

The Marumo Medal, Class I was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1988.

Marumo Medal, Class II

The Marumo Medal, Class II was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1988.

Defence Force Commendation Medal

The Defence Force Commendation Medal was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1982. It could be awarded to all ranks for service of a high standard.

Defence Force Merit Medal

The Defence Force Merit Medal was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1982, for award to all ranks for extraordinarily excellent service and particular devotion to duty.

Defence Force Merit Decoration

The Defence Force Merit Decoration was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1982, for award to officers for distinguished service of high quality and utmost devotion to duty.

Distinguished Gallantry Cross

The Distinguished Gallantry Cross was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1982, for award to all ranks for hair-raising deeds of distinguished heroism.

Gallantry Cross, Gold

The Gallantry Cross, Gold was instituted by the President of the Republic of Venda in 1985, for award to all ranks for extreme courage or supreme bravery or valour beyond the normal call of duty.

Gallantry Cross, Silver

The Gallantry Cross, Silver, post-nominal letters GCS, was instituted by the President of the Republic of Venda in 1985, for award to all ranks for courage or bravery or valour beyond the normal call of duty.

Distinguished Service Medal, Gold

The Distinguished Service Medal, Gold was instituted by the President of the Republic of Venda in 1985, for award to all ranks for exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty.

Venda Defence Force Medal

The Venda Defence Force Medal was instituted by the President of the Republic of Venda in 1984, for award to all ranks for service of a high standard.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, OCLC   72827981
  2. ↑ Republic of Bophuthatswana Constitution Act, 1977
  3. 1 2 3 South African Medal Website - Bophuthatswana Defence Force (Accessed 30 April 2015)
  4. ↑ South Africa Homeland Militaries, May 1996 (Accessed 1 May 2015)
  5. ↑ Peled, Alon (1998), A Question of Loyalty: Military Manpower Policy in Multiethnic States , Cornell Studies in Security Affairs, Ithaca: Cornell University Press, pp.  50f, ISBN   0-8014-3239-1
  6. 1 2 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.
  7. ↑ Republic of South Africa Government Gazette no. 15093, Pretoria, 3 September 1993
  8. 1 2 Uniform: SA Army: Former Forces Medals - Bophuthatswana Defence Force (BDF)
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