General Service Medal (Bophuthatswana)

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General Service Medal
General Service Medal, Bophuthatswana.jpg
TypeMilitary campaign medal
Awarded forOperational service inside Bophuthatswana
Country Flag of Bophuthatswana (1972-1994).svg Bophuthatswana
Presented bythe State President
EligibilityAll ranks
StatusDiscontinued in 1994
Established1991
Ribbon - General Service Medal (Bophuthatswana).png
Ribbon bar
BDF pre-1994 & SANDF post-2002 orders of wear
Next (higher)
BDF precedence:
SANDF precedence:
Next (lower)
BDF succession:
SANDF succession:

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. [1] [2]

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). [3] [4] [5]

Institution

The General Service Medal was instituted by the State President of Bophuthatswana in 1991. [6]

Award criteria

The medal could be awarded to all ranks for operational service inside Bophuthatswana. [1]

Order of wear

Since the General Service 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 General Service Medal in the official order of precedence was revised twice after 1994, to accommodate the inclusion or institution of new decorations and medals, first in April 1996 when decorations and medals were belatedly instituted for the two former non-statutory forces, the Azanian People's Liberation Army and Umkhonto we Sizwe, and again upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003. [6] [7]

Bophuthatswana Defence Force until 26 April 1994

Ribbon - Nkwe Medal.png Ribbon - General Service Medal (Bophuthatswana).png Ribbon - Independence Medal (Bophuthatswana).png

South African National Defence Force from 27 April 1994

Ribbon - Nkwe Medal.png Ribbon - General Service Medal (Bophuthatswana).png UK Queen EII Coronation Medal ribbon.svg

South African National Defence Force from April 1996

Ribbon - Nkwe Medal.png Ribbon - General Service Medal (Bophuthatswana).png Ribbon - Operational Medal for Southern Africa.png

The position of the General Service Medal in the order of precedence remained unchanged, as it was in April 1996, when a new series of military orders, decorations and medals was instituted in South Africa on 27 April 2003. [6]

Description

Obverse

The General Service Medal is a medallion struck in nickel-silver, 38 millimetres in diameter and 3 millimetres thick at the rim, displaying the leopard emblem of the Bophuthatswana Defence Force surrounded by a laurel wreath. [1] [8]

Reverse

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

Ribbon

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide, with a 4 millimetres wide yellow band, a 2 millimetres wide red band and a 4 millimetres wide white band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 12 millimetres wide red band in the centre. [1] [8]

Discontinuation

Conferment of the General Service Medal was discontinued when the Republic of Bophuthatswana ceased to exist on 27 April 1994. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independence Medal (Bophuthatswana)</span> Award

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marumo Medal, Class I</span> Award

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marumo Medal, Class II</span> Award

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Defence Force Commendation Medal</span> Award

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Defence Force Merit Medal</span> Award

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Defence Force Merit Decoration</span> Award

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Distinguished Gallantry Cross</span> Award

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Venda Defence Force Medal</span> Award

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Independence Medal (Venda)</span> Award

The Independence Medal was instituted by the President of the Republic of Venda in 1979, for award to all ranks in commemoration of the independence of Venda.

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

The Long Service Medal, Gold was instituted by the President of the Republic of Venda in 1985, for award to all ranks for thirty years exemplary service.

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

The Ciskei Defence Medal was instituted by the President of the Republic of Ciskei in 1988, for award to all ranks for general service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Star for Bravery in Gold</span> Award

The Star for Bravery in Gold, post-nominal letters SBG, 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, who have distinguished themselves during the "struggle" by performing acts of exceptional bravery in great danger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Star for Bravery in Silver</span> Award

The Star for Bravery in Silver, post-nominal letters SBS, 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, who had distinguished themselves during the "struggle" by performing acts of bravery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operational Medal for Southern Africa</span> Award

The Operational Medal for Southern Africa was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa in 1998. It was awarded to veteran cadres of Umkhonto we Sizwe and the Azanian People's Liberation Army for operational service outside South Africa during the "struggle".

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

The South Africa Service Medal was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa in 1998. It was awarded to veteran cadres of Umkhonto we Sizwe and the Azanian People's Liberation Army for operational service inside South Africa during the "struggle".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gold Decoration for Merit</span> Award

The Gold Decoration for Merit, post-nominal letters GDM, was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa in April 1996. It was awarded to veteran cadres of the Azanian People's Liberation Army, the military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress, for outstanding service and utmost devotion to duty during the "struggle".

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 South African Medal Website - Bophuthatswana Defence Force (Accessed 30 April 2015)
  2. ↑ Republic of Bophuthatswana Constitution Act, 1977
  3. ↑ South Africa Homeland Militaries, May 1996 (Accessed 1 May 2015)
  4. ↑ 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
  5. 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.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, OCLC   72827981
  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)". Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 10 June 2014.
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