Woltemade Cross for Bravery, Gold

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Woltemade Cross for Bravery, Gold
Woltemade Cross for Bravery, Gold.jpg
TypeCivil decoration for bravery
Awarded forActs of outstanding bravery
Country Flag of South Africa (1928-1994).svg Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Presented bythe State President
EligibilitySouth African citizens and others
Post-nominalsWD
StatusDiscontinued in 2002
Established1988
Ribbon - Woltemade Cross for Bravery.png
Ribbon bar
Pre-1994 & post-2002 orders of wear
Next (higher)
Pre-1994 precedence:
Post-2002 precedence:
Next (lower)
Pre-1994 succession:
  • Flag of South Africa 1928-1994.svg Order of the Southern Cross, Class I, Gold
Post-2002 succession:

The Woltemade Cross for Bravery, Gold, post-nominal letters WD, is the senior of two classes of a South African civil decoration for acts of bravery. It replaced the Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Gold, Union of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery, Gold and Woltemade Decoration for Bravery, Gold, all of which ranked on par with each other and the award of which had been discontinued in 1952, 1961 and 1988 respectively. [1] [2]

Contents

Institution

The Woltemade Cross for Bravery, Gold, post-nominal letters WD, was instituted by Warrant of 16 September 1988, published in Government Gazette no. 11519 dated 30 September 1988. [1] [2]

It is the senior of two classes of South Africa's highest civilian decoration for bravery and it replaced the Woltemade Decoration for Bravery, Gold. [3]

The cross was named in memory of Wolraad Woltemade, an elderly servant of the Dutch East India Company, who gave his life while rescuing shipwrecked sailors in Table Bay on 1 June 1773. The ship De Jonge Thomas broke anchor in a gale force Northwestern and was driven ashore in the Salt River Mouth. Woltemade rode his horse into the sea seven times and brought surviving sailors ashore each time, but on the eighth excursion Woltemade and his exhausted horse were overladen by panic-stricken sailors and drowned. [1]

Award criteria

The Woltemade Cross for Bravery, Gold could be awarded to South African citizens who have distinguished themselves by outstanding bravery, by placing their own lives in great danger whilst trying to save the life of another person, or by saving or protecting property belonging to the state, within or beyond the borders of the Republic of South Africa. The cross could also be awarded to non-citizens who have distinguished themselves in this manner, by placing their own lives in great danger whilst trying to save the life of a South Africa citizen, or by saving or protecting property belonging to the state, within or beyond the borders of the Republic of South Africa. [1] [4]

Order of wear

The position of the Woltemade Cross for Bravery, Gold in the official national order of precedence was revised three times after 1990 to accommodate the inclusion or institution of new decorations and medals, first with the integration process of 1994, again when decorations and medals were belatedly instituted in April 1996 for the two former non-statutory para-military forces, the Azanian People's Liberation Army and Umkhonto we Sizwe, and again with the institution of new sets of awards in 2002 and 2003. The position of the cross only changed in 1996. [3]

Official national order of precedence until April 1996
Official national order of precedence from April 1996

Description

The Woltemade Cross for Bravery, Gold is a neck decoration and consists of the convex cross, a gold rosette and, for evening dress, a miniature cross identical to the obverse design of the neck badge. The neck badge would be worn pendent from the ribbon around the neck. The rosette would be worn on the left lapel of a jacket or as a brooch by ladies. When worn on uniform, the rosette would be attached to the ribbon bar. [1] [4]

The Cross is silver-gilt and is 38 millimetres in diameter. It is struck in the form of a cross potent facetted newy[ check spelling ], with a centre roundel bearing, in relief, a representation of Wolraad Woltemade on his horse saving a man from the sea. [1] [4]

The reverse has the embellished South African Coat of Arms and the engraved serial number of the cross. [1] [4]

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and dark blue with 4 millimetres wide orange edges. Since the same ribbon is used for the Woltemade Cross for Bravery, Silver, the gold rosette would be worn on the ribbon bar when ribbons alone are worn. [1]

A bar, struck in gold and decorated with laurel leaves, could be awarded to denote a subsequent award. [1]

Recipients

Altogether 27 decorations were awarded. The first recipient, in 1988, was Hendrik Boshoff who had rescued someone from the jaws of a leopard. [4] In 1989, some of the survivors of the Westdene dam disaster were awarded for their heroic attempts at saving their classmates. Pieter Koen was the only one of the group awarded posthumously, for he had drowned during their rescuing efforts.

Discontinuation

The Woltemade Cross for Bravery, Gold was discontinued in 2002 and was replaced by the Mendi Decoration for Bravery, Gold (OMBG) during the following year. [1]

Related Research Articles

The Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Gold was the highest South African civilian decoration during the period between 1910 and 1961, when the country was a constitutional monarchy in the British Commonwealth. The medal was instituted by King George VI on 23 June 1939.

South African orders, decorations and medals are those military and civilian orders, decorations and medals issued by the Government of South Africa. The following is a (non-exhaustive) list of these:

Honoris Crux (1952) Award

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.

Louw Wepener Decoration Award

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) Award

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 Decoration Award

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

Louw Wepener Medal Award

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.

Honoris Crux Gold South African military decoration for bravery

The Honoris Crux Gold, post-nominal letters HCG, is a South African military decoration for bravery which was instituted in 1975. It was awarded to members of the South African Defence Force for outstanding acts of bravery while in extreme danger. It was the second most senior in a set of four classes of Honoris Crux decorations which replaced the discontinued Honoris Crux of 1952.

Woltemade Decoration for Bravery, Silver Award

The Woltemade Decoration for Bravery, Silver is the lesser of two classes of a South African civil decoration for acts of bravery. It replaced the King's Medal for Bravery, Silver and Queen's Medal for Bravery, Silver, the award of which was discontinued in South Africa in 1961.

Star for Bravery in Gold 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.

Star for Bravery in Silver 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.

Gold Star for Bravery Award

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

Bravery Star in Silver Award

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

Gold Decoration for Merit 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".

Silver Medal for Merit 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".

Woltemade Decoration for Bravery, Gold Award

The Woltemade Decoration for Bravery, Gold is the senior of two classes of a South African civil decoration for acts of bravery. It replaced the Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Gold and Union of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery, Gold, the award of which had been discontinued in 1952 and 1961 respectively.

Union of South Africa Kings Medal for Bravery, Silver Award

The Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Silver is the lesser of two classes of a South African civil decoration for acts of bravery that was in use from 1939 to 1952, when the country was a constitutional monarchy in the British Commonwealth. The medal was instituted by King George VI on 23 June 1939.

Union of South Africa Queens Medal for Bravery, Gold Award

The Union of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery, Gold was the highest South African civilian decoration during the period from 1952 to 1961, while the country was still a constitutional monarchy in the British Commonwealth. The decoration was instituted by Queen Elizabeth II on 15 December 1952.

Union of South Africa Queens Medal for Bravery, Silver Award

The Union of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery, Silver is the lesser of two classes of a South African civil decoration for acts of bravery that was in use from 1952 to 1961, while the country was still a constitutional monarchy in the British Commonwealth. The decoration was instituted by Queen Elizabeth II on 15 December 1952.

Woltemade Cross for Bravery, Silver Award

The Woltemade Cross for Bravery, Silver, post-nominal letters WDS, is the lesser of two classes of a South African civil decoration for acts of bravery. It replaced the Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Silver, Union of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery, Silver and Woltemade Decoration for Bravery, Silver, all of which ranked on par with each other and the award of which had been discontinued in 1952, 1961 and 1988 respectively.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Monick, S (1990). South African Civil Awards. South African National Museum of Military History. pp. 145–147.
  2. 1 2 South African Medal Website - Post-nominal Letters (Accessed 28 April 2015)
  3. 1 2 3 Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, OCLC   72827981
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 South African Medals Website - Republic of South Africa: 1967-2002 (Accessed 1 May 2015)
  5. ↑ Republic of South Africa Government Gazette no. 15093, Pretoria, 3 September 1993
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