Merit Medal in Bronze

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Merit Medal in Bronze
Merit Medal in Bronze.jpg
TypeMilitary decoration for merit
Awarded forService of a high order
Country Flag of the African National Congress.svg Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Presented bythe President
Eligibility uMkhonto we Sizwe cadres
Post-nominalsMMB
Campaign(s)The "struggle"
StatusDiscontinued in 2003
Established1996
Ribbon - Merit Medal in Bronze.png
Ribbon bar
MK 1996 & SANDF post-2002 orders of wear
Next (higher)
MK precedence:
SANDF precedence:
Next (lower)
SANDF succession:

The Merit Medal in Bronze, post-nominal letters MMB, 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 service of a high order. [1] [2]

Contents

uMkhonto we Sizwe

uMkhonto we Sizwe, abbreviated as MK, "Spear of the Nation" in Zulu, was the paramilitary wing of the African National Congress (ANC). It was established on 16 December 1961 to wage an armed "struggle" against the Nationalist government inside South Africa. On 27 April 1994, Umkhonto we Sizwe was amalgamated with six other military forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). [1] [3] [4]

Institution

The Merit Medal in Bronze, post-nominal letters MMB, was instituted by the President of South Africa in April 1996. It is the junior award of a set of three decorations for merit, along with the Decoration for Merit in Gold and the Merit Medal in Silver. [1] [2] [5]

uMkhonto we Sizwe's military decorations and medals were modelled on those of the South African Defence Force and these three decorations are the approximate equivalents of, respectively, the Southern Cross Decoration and Pro Merito Decoration, the Southern Cross Medal (1975) and Pro Merito Medal (1975), and the Military Merit Medal. [5]

Award criteria

The decoration could be awarded to veteran cadres of uMkhonto we Sizwe who had distinguished themselves during the "struggle" by service of a high order. [1] [5]

Order of wear

The position of the Merit Medal in Bronze in the official military and national orders of precedence was revised upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003. [5] [6]

uMkhonto we Sizwe

Ribbon - Merit Medal in Silver.png Ribbon - Merit Medal in Bronze.png Ribbon - Operational Medal for Southern Africa.png

South African National Defence Force until 26 April 2003

Ribbon - Bronze Medal for Merit.png Ribbon - Merit Medal in Bronze.png Ribbon - Chief C.D.F. Commendation Medal.png

South African National Defence Force from 27 April 2003

Ribbon - Bronze Medal for Merit.png Ribbon - Merit Medal in Bronze.png PBlint.gif

Description

Obverse

The Merit Medal in Bronze was struck in bronze and has an engrailed edge which has nine points, to fit in a circle 38 millimetres in diameter. It depicts the Umkhonto we Sizwe emblem and a protea flower in each of the nine points. [1] [7]

Ribbon

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and dark blue, with a 12 millimetres wide dark yellow band in the centre. [1] [7]

Discontinuation

Conferment of the Merit Medal in Bronze was discontinued upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003. [6]

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

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<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.

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

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

The Silver Medal for Merit, post-nominal letters SMM, 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 exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty during the "struggle".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bronze Medal for Merit</span> Award

The Bronze Medal for Merit, post-nominal letters BMM, 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 service of a high order during the "struggle".

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

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

The Bronze Service Medal 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 ten years of exemplary service.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Liberation armies". South African Medal Website. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Post-nominal Letters". South African Medal Website. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  3. "Manifesto of Umkhonto we Sizwe". African National Congress. 16 December 1961. Archived from the original on 17 December 2006. Retrieved 30 December 2006.
  4. 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.
  5. 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
  6. 1 2 Presidential Warrant by the President of the Republic of South Africa for the Institution of Honours for Bravery in the South African National Defence Force, Gazette no. 25213 dated 25 July 2003.
  7. 1 2 "uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK)". Uniform: SA Army: Former Forces Medals.