Woltemade Cross for Bravery, Silver

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Woltemade Cross for Bravery, Silver
Woltemade Cross for Bravery, Silver.jpg
TypeCivil decoration for bravery
Awarded forActs of exceptional 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-nominalsWDS
StatusDiscontinued in 2002
Established1988
Ribbon - Woltemade Cross for Bravery.png
Ribbon bar
Pre-1994 & post-2002 orders of wear
Next (higher)
Pre-1994 precedence:
  • Flag of South Africa 1928-1994.svg National Intelligence Service Cross for Valour, Gold
Post-2002 precedence:
  • Flag of South Africa 1928-1994.svg National Intelligence Service Cross for Valour, Gold
Next (lower)
Pre-1994 succession:
  • Flag of South Africa 1928-1994.svg King's/Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry or Distinguished Service
Post-2002 succession:

Flag of South Africa 1928-1994.svg King's/Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry or Distinguished Service

Contents

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. [1] [2] [3]

Institution

The Woltemade Cross for Bravery, Silver, post-nominal letters WDS, was instituted by Warrant of 16 September 1988, published in Government Gazette no. 11519 dated 30 September 1988. [1] [3]

It is the lesser of two classes of South Africa's highest civilian decoration for bravery and it replaced the Woltemade Decoration for Bravery, Silver. [4]

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, Silver could be awarded to South African citizens who have distinguished themselves by exceptional 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]

Order of wear

The position of the Woltemade Cross for Bravery, Silver 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, but it remained unchanged on all three occasions. [4]

Description

The Woltemade Cross for Bravery, Silver is a breast decoration and consists of the cross, a silver rosette and, for evening dress, a miniature cross identical to the obverse design of the breast badge. 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] [2]

The Cross is struck in silver and is 38 millimetres in diameter. It is 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] [2]

The reverse of the full-size decoration has the embellished South African Coat of Arms and the engraved serial number of the cross. [1] [2] The reverse of the miniature decoration is smooth and impressed with a silver hallmark.

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, Gold, the silver rosette would be worn on the ribbon bar when ribbons alone are worn. [1]

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

Recipients

Altogether 39 decorations were awarded. The first recipient, in 1988, was Erasmus Hattingh. [2]

Discontinuation

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

Related Research Articles

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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.

John Chard Decoration 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.

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.

Pro Virtute Decoration Award

The Pro Virtute Decoration, post-nominal letters PVD, is a military decoration for bravery which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1987. It was awarded to officers of the South African Defence Force for distinguished conduct and exceptional leadership during combat operations in the field.

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.

Pro Virtute Medal Award

The Pro Virtute Medal, post-nominal letters PVM, was a military decoration for bravery that was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1987, but never awarded. The decoration was intended for award to other ranks of the South African Defence Force for distinguished conduct and outstanding combat leadership in the field.

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.

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, Gold Award

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.

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 3 4 5 South African Medal Website - Republic of South Africa: 1967-2002 (Accessed 1 May 2015)
  3. 1 2 South African Medal Website - Post-nominal Letters (Accessed 28 April 2015)
  4. 1 2 3 Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, OCLC   72827981
  5. ↑ Republic of South Africa Government Gazette no. 15093, Pretoria, 3 September 1993
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