Star of South Africa, Silver
Star of South Africa, Silver | |
---|---|
Type | Military decoration for merit |
Awarded for | Exceptionally meritorious service of major military significance |
Country | South Africa |
Presented by | the State President and, from 1994, the President |
Eligibility | General and flag officers |
Post-nominals | SSAS |
Status | Discontinued in 2002 |
Established | 1975 |
Ribbon bar | |
SADF pre-1994 & SANDF post-2002 orders of wear | |
Next (higher) | SADF precedence: SANDF precedence: |
Equivalent | Star of South Africa, Grand Officer |
Next (lower) | SADF succession:
SANDF succession:
|
The Star of South Africa, Silver, post-nominal letters SSAS, was the second level decoration of two military and five non-military classes of the Order of the Star of South Africa, which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. It was awarded to general and flag officers of the South African Defence Force for exceptionally meritorious service of major military significance. The Order of the Star of South Africa was discontinued in 2002.[1][2]
The South African military
The Union Defence Forces (UDF) were established in 1912 and renamed the South African Defence Force (SADF) in 1958. On 27 April 1994, it was integrated with six other independent forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).[2][3][4][5][6]
Institution
The Star of South Africa, Silver, post-nominal letters SSAS, was instituted by the State President on 1 July 1975, as the junior decoration of two military classes of the Order of the Star of South Africa. The order was named after the first large diamond to be found in South Africa, the Star of South Africa, which was found on the banks of the Orange River in 1869 and which sparked the New Rush, leading to the establishment of Kimberley.[2]
The Order of the Star of South Africa was expanded on 17 October 1978, when a non-military division, with decorations in five classes, was instituted for conferment on civilians and, from 1988, on senior police, prisons service and intelligence service officers, as well as foreign military attachés. The second of these five non-military decorations, the Star of South Africa, Grand Officer, ranks on par with the Star of South Africa, Silver.[1][7]
Award criteria
The Star of South Africa, Silver was awarded to general and flag officers for exceptionally meritorious service of major military significance.[2]
Order of wear
The position of the Star of South Africa, Silver in the official order of precedence was revised twice after 1975, to accommodate the inclusion or institution of new decorations and medals, upon the integration into the South African National Defence Force in 1994 and again with the institution of a new set of awards in 2003.[7]
- South African Defence Force until 26 April 1994
- Official SADF order of precedence:
- Preceded by the Star of South Africa, Gold (SSA).
- Succeeded by the Star of South Africa (1952) (SSA).[8]
- Official national order of precedence:
- Preceded by the Order of the Southern Cross, Silver (OSS).
- Succeeded by the Order for Meritorious Service, Silver (OMSS).[8]
- South African National Defence Force from 27 April 1994
- Official SANDF order of precedence:
- Preceded by the Star of South Africa, Gold (SSA) of the Republic of South Africa.
- Succeeded by the Order of the Leopard, Military Division, Commander of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.[7]
- Official national order of precedence:
- Preceded by the Order of the Southern Cross, Silver (OSS) of the Republic of South Africa.
- Succeeded by the Order of the Leopard, Grand Commander of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.[7]
The position of the Star of South Africa, Silver in the order of precedence remained unchanged, as it was on 27 April 1994, when a new series of military orders, decorations and medals was instituted on 27 April 2003.[7]
Description
- Obverse
The Star of South Africa, Silver was struck in silver and is a Maltese cross, with the arms in dark blue enamel, with protea flowers between the arms of the cross. Two four-pointed stars, superimposed on one another, are mounted on the cross.[2]
- Reverse
The reverse has the pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms.
- Ribbon
The decoration is worn around the neck on a dark blue ribbon, 35 millimetres wide, with a 2 millimetres wide white band in the centre.[2]
- Breast star
Recipients also wear a silver breast star with eight multi-rayed points, which displays the obverse of the decoration in its centre. The reverse of the breast star has the pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms in the centre, with the silver hallmark below it.[2]
Discontinuation
Conferment of the decoration was discontinued on 6 December 2002, when a new set of national orders was instituted.[2]
References
- ^ a b South African Medal Website - Post-nominal Letters (Accessed 28 April 2015)
- ^ a b c d e f g h South African Medal Website - SA Defence Force : 1975-2003 (Accessed 30 April 2015)
- ^ South African Medal Website - SA Defence Force : 1952-1975 (Accessed 30 April 2015)
- ^ Suid-Afrikaanse militêre dekorasies: 1952-1975
- ^ Suid-Afrikaanse militêre dekorasies: 1975-2003
- ^ Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 457, no. 25213, Pretoria, 25 July 2003
- ^ a b c d e Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, OCLC 72827981
- ^ a b Republic of South Africa Government Gazette no. 15093, Pretoria, 3 September 1993
- v
- t
- e
Pre-Union
until 6 April 1952
- Victoria Cross
- Dekoratie voor Trouwe Dienst
- Distinguished Service Order
- Distinguished Service Cross
- Military Cross
- Distinguished Flying Cross
- Air Force Cross
- Distinguished Conduct Medal
- Distinguished Conduct Medal (Natal)
- Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
- Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying)
- Distinguished Service Medal
- Military Medal
- Distinguished Flying Medal
- Air Force Medal
- British Empire Medal (Military)
- South Africa Medal (1853)
- South Africa Medal (1880)
- Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal
- Queen's South Africa Medal
- Medalje voor de Anglo-Boere Oorlog
- Lint voor Verwonding
- King's South Africa Medal
- Natal Native Rebellion Medal
- 1914–15 Star
- British War Medal
- Victory Medal (South Africa)
- Mercantile Marine War Medal
- 1939–1945 Star
- Atlantic Star
- Arctic Star
- Air Crew Europe Star
- Africa Star
- Pacific Star
- Burma Star
- Italy Star
- France and Germany Star
- Defence Medal
- War Medal
- Africa Service Medal
- King George V Coronation Medal
- King George V Silver Jubilee Medal
- King George VI Coronation Medal
- Meritorious Service Medal (United Kingdom)
- 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
- Union of South Africa Commemoration Medal
- South African Medal for War Services
- Sir Harry Smith's Medal for Gallantry (Unofficial)
- 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