Gold Decoration for Merit
Gold Decoration for Merit | |
---|---|
Type | Military decoration for merit |
Awarded for | Outstanding service and utmost devotion to duty |
Country | South Africa |
Presented by | the President |
Eligibility | Azanian People's Liberation Army cadres |
Post-nominals | GDM |
Campaign(s) | The "struggle" |
Status | Discontinued in 2003 |
Established | 1996 |
Ribbon bar | |
APLA 1996 & SANDF post-2002 orders of wear | |
Next (higher) | APLA precedence: SANDF precedence: |
Next (lower) | APLA succession: SANDF succession:
|
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".[1][2]
Azanian People's Liberation Army
The Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA) was the para-military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC). It was established in 1961 to wage an armed "struggle" against the Nationalist government inside South Africa. On 27 April 1994, the Azanian People's Liberation Army was amalgamated with six other military forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).[1][3][4]
Institution
The Gold Decoration for Merit, post-nominal letters GDM, was instituted by the President of South Africa in April 1996. It is the senior award of a set of three decorations for merit, along with the Silver Medal for Merit and the Bronze Medal for Merit.[1][2][5][6]
The Azanian People's Liberation Army'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 the Azanian People's Liberation Army for outstanding service and utmost devotion to duty during the "struggle".[1][5]
Order of wear
The position of the Gold Decoration for Merit 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][7]
- Azanian People's Liberation Army
- Official APLA order of precedence:
- Preceded by the Star for Conspicuous Leadership (SCL).
- Succeeded by the Silver Medal for Merit (SMM).[5]
- South African National Defence Force until 26 April 2003
- Official SANDF order of precedence:
- Preceded by the Decoration for Merit in Gold (DMG) of Umkhonto we Sizwe.
- Succeeded by the Van Riebeeck Medal (VRM) of the Republic of South Africa.[5]
- Official national order of precedence:
- Preceded by the Decoration for Merit in Gold (DMG) of Umkhonto we Sizwe.
- Succeeded by the Order of the Star of South Africa Class IV, Officer (OSSA) of the Republic of South Africa.[5]
- South African National Defence Force from 27 April 2003
- Official SANDF order of precedence:
- Preceded by the Decoration for Merit in Gold (DMG) of Umkhonto we Sizwe.
- Succeeded by the iPhrothiya yeGolide (PG) of the Republic of South Africa.[5]
- Official national order of precedence:
- Preceded by the Decoration for Merit in Gold (DMG) of Umkhonto we Sizwe.
- Succeeded by the iPhrothiya yeGolide (PG) of the Republic of South Africa.[5]
Description
- Obverse
The Gold Decoration for Merit is a silver-gilt straight armed cross with indented ends, which fits in a circle with a diameter of 38 millimetres. The arms of the cross are in white enamel, with the Azanian People's Liberation Army emblem in a dark blue enameled roundel in the centre.[1][8]
- Ribbon
The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and dark blue, with two 6 millimetres wide yellow bands in the centre, spaced 4 millimetres apart.[1][8]
Discontinuation
Conferment of the Gold Decoration for Merit was discontinued upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d e f South African Medal Website - Liberation armies (Accessed 30 April 2015)
- ^ a b South African Medal Website - Post-nominal Letters (Accessed 28 April 2015)
- ^ "Manifesto of Umkhonto we Sizwe". African National Congress. 16 December 1961. Archived from the original on 17 December 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-30.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, OCLC 72827981
- ^ South African Medal Website - Legal aspects - Fount of Honour (Accessed 1 May 2015)
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b Uniform: SA Army: Former Forces Medals - Azanian Peoples Liberation Army (APLA)
- v
- t
- e
Pre-Union
until 6 April 1952
- Victoria Cross
- Dekoratie voor Trouwe Dienst
- Distinguished Service Order
- Distinguished Service Cross
- Military Cross
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- Air Force Cross
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- Distinguished Conduct Medal (Natal)
- Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
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- Distinguished Service Medal
- Military Medal
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- Air Force Medal
- British Empire Medal (Military)
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- South Africa Medal (1880)
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- Meritorious Service Medal (Cape of Good Hope)
- Meritorious Service Medal (Natal)
- Meritorious Service Medal (South Africa)
- Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Cape of Good Hope)
- Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Natal)
- Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Medal
- Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (South Africa)
- Volunteer Officers' Decoration for India and the Colonies
- Volunteer Long Service Medal for India and the Colonies
- Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration
- Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal
- Efficiency Decoration (South Africa)
- Efficiency Medal (South Africa)
- Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
- Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
- Air Efficiency Award
- King's Medal for Champion Shots in the Military Forces
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- Johannesburg Vrijwilliger Corps Medal (Unofficial)
- Kimberley Star (Unofficial)
- Cape Copper Company Medal for the Defence of O'okiep (Unofficial)
1952–1994
- Honoris Crux Gold
- Star of South Africa, Gold
- Star of South Africa, Silver
- Star of South Africa (1952)
- Louw Wepener Decoration
- Honoris Crux (1952)
- Honoris Crux Silver
- Van Riebeeck Decoration
- Honoris Crux (1975)
- Pro Virtute Decoration
- Southern Cross Decoration
- Pro Merito Decoration
- Van Riebeeck Medal
- Louw Wepener Medal
- Ad Astra Decoration
- Army Cross
- Air Force Cross
- Navy Cross
- Medical Service Cross
- Southern Cross Medal (1952)
- Pro Merito Medal (1967)
- Southern Cross Medal (1975)
- Pro Merito Medal (1975)
- Danie Theron Medal
- Jack Hindon Medal
- Military Merit Medal
- Korea Medal
- Pro Patria Medal
- Southern Africa Medal
- General Service Medal (South Africa)
- Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
- Medal for Distinguished Conduct and Loyal Service
- Good Service Medal, Gold
- John Chard Decoration
- De Wet Decoration
- Cadet Corps Medal
- Good Service Medal, Silver
- Union Medal
- Permanent Force Good Service Medal
- John Chard Medal
- Good Service Medal, Bronze
- De Wet Medal
- Queen's Medal for Champion Shots in the Military Forces
- Commandant General's Medal
- SADF Champion Shot Medal
- National Cadet Bisley Grand Champion Medal
Transkei
- Cross for Bravery
- Transkei Defence Force Medal
- Independence Medal (Transkei)
- Military Rule Medal
- Faithful Service Medal
Bophuthatswana
- Order of the Leopard, Commander
- Distinguished Gallantry Cross
- Defence Force Merit Decoration
- Distinguished Gallantry Medal
- Defence Force Merit Medal
- Marumo Medal, Class I
- Defence Force Commendation Medal
- Marumo Medal, Class II
- Nkwe Medal
- General Service Medal
- Independence Medal
- Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Gold
- Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Silver
- Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Bronze
- State President's Medal for Shooting
Venda
- Gallantry Cross, Gold
- Gallantry Cross, Silver
- Distinguished Service Medal, Gold
- Distinguished Service Medal, Silver
- Venda Defence Force Medal
- General Service Medal (Venda)
- Independence Medal (Venda)
- Long Service Medal, Gold
- Long Service Medal, Silver
- Long Service Medal, Bronze
Ciskei
Umkhonto
we Sizwe
Azanian People's
Liberation Army
From 1994