Union of South Africa Commemoration Medal
Union of South Africa Commemoration Medal | |
---|---|
Type | Commemorative medal |
Awarded for | Commemoration of the opening of the first Union Parliament |
Country | Union of South Africa |
Presented by | the Monarch of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India |
Eligibility | Military and civil leaders |
Established | 1910 |
First awarded | 1910 |
Last awarded | 1911 |
Total | 580 |
Ribbon Bar | |
South African order of wear | |
Next (higher) | Air Efficiency Award |
Next (lower) | South African Medal for War Services |
The Union of South Africa Commemoration Medal is a military and civil commemorative medal which was awarded to commemorate the opening of the first Union Parliament by the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn in 1910. It may be considered as the first of many independence medals which were instituted throughout the Commonwealth during the 20th century.[1][2][3]
Institution
The Union of South Africa Commemoration Medal was instituted by King George V in terms of Royal Warrant of 3 October 1910, published in Government Gazette no. 59 dated 29 November 1910. The medal was struck to commemorate the opening of the first Parliament of the Union of South Africa by the Duke of Connaught and it was awarded to military and civilian leaders who took part in the ceremonies to establish the Union of South Africa from the unification of the former Colonies of the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, Transvaal and the Orange River Colony.[2][4]
Award criteria
The medal was awarded to members of the military and naval forces as well as certain civilian leaders who took a prominent part in the proceedings, and only on the recommendation of the Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies. A roll was to be kept and was to be closed six months after the date of the warrant, after which no award could be made except with Royal Approval in very special circumstances.[2][3]
Order of wear
In the order of wear prescribed by the British Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, the Union of South Africa Commemoration Medal takes precedence after the Northern Ireland Prison Service Medal and before the Indian Independence Medal.[5]
South Africa
With effect from 6 April 1952, when a new South African set of decorations and medals was instituted to replace the British awards used to date, the older British decorations and medals which were applicable to South Africa continued to be worn in the same order of precedence but, with the exception of the Victoria Cross, took precedence after all South African decorations and medals awarded to South Africans on or after that date. Of the official British medals which were applicable to South Africans, the Union of South Africa Commemoration Medal takes precedence as shown.[5][6][7]
- Preceded by the Air Efficiency Award.
- Succeeded by the South African Medal for War Services.
Description
The medal, which was awarded unnamed, was struck in silver and is 36 millimetres in diameter with a raised rim.[1][2][3]
- Obverse
The obverse bears the effigy of King George V, facing left and surrounded by the legend: "GEORGIVS V BRITT:OMN:REX ET IND:IMP:". The medal is attached with a swiveling claw suspension affixed to the medal by means of a pin through the upper edge of the medal. The suspender is fitted with a large ring.[1][2][3]
- Reverse
The reverse depicts the god Mercury, as the god of commerce and prosperity, forging links of a chain on an anvil, with four links each bearing the name of a Province of the Union of South Africa, "CAPE OF GOOD HOPE", "NATAL", "TRANSVAAL" and "ORANGE RIVER". The year "1910" underneath is entwined by an olive branch. Around the circumference and encircling the image is the inscription "TO COMMEMORATE THE UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA".[2][3][8]
- Ribbon
The ribbon is 38 millimetres wide, with two 10 millimetres wide orange bands separated by an 18 millimetres wide dark blue band.[3][8]
Recipients
The Roll shows that altogether 580 medals were awarded. Of these, 21 went to members of the Royal Navy, 52 to the British Army, 41 to South African forces, 465 to civilians of which 31 were women, and one to a member of foreign services.[2][3]
References
- ^ a b c McCreery, Christopher (19 May 2012). Commemorative medals of the Queen's reign in Canada, 1952-2012. Toronto: Dundurn Press. pp. 31, 40, 60. ISBN 9781459707566.
- ^ a b c d e f g Monick, S (1990). South African Civil Awards. South African National Museum of Military History. pp. 75–76.
- ^ a b c d e f g South African Medal Website - Civil - Union of South Africa (Accessed 1 May 2015)
- ^ The Medal Collector. New York: Dodd Mead and Company. 1921. p. 249.
- ^ a b "No. 56878". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 March 2003. p. 3353.
- ^ Government Notice no. 1982 of 1 October 1954 - Order of Precedence of Orders, Decorations and Medals, published in the Government Gazette of 1 October 1954.
- ^ Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, OCLC 72827981
- ^ a b "Union of South Africa Commemoration Medal". Royal Museums Greenwich. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
- 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)
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- Atlantic Star
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- Defence Medal
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- 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