Pro Merito Decoration
TypeMilitary decoration for merit
Awarded forOutstanding service of the highest order and utmost devotion to duty
CountrySouth Africa  South Africa
Presented bythe State President and, from 1994, the President
EligibilityOther ranks
Post-nominalsPMD
StatusDiscontinued in 2003
Established1975
First awarded1976
Ribbon bar
SADF pre-1994 & SANDF post-2002 orders of wear
Next (higher)
SADF precedence:
SANDF precedence:
Next (lower)
SADF succession:
SANDF succession:

The Pro Merito Decoration, post-nominal letters PMD, is a military decoration for merit which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. It was awarded to other ranks of the South African Defence Force for outstanding service of the highest order and utmost devotion to duty.[1][2][3][4][5]

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).[3][6][7]

Institution

The Pro Merito Decoration, post-nominal letters PMD, was instituted by the State President on 1 July 1975.[6][8]

Award criteria

The decoration could be awarded to other ranks of the South African Defence Force for outstanding service of the highest order and utmost devotion to duty. A Bar was instituted in 1993, to be awarded in recognition of further similar displays of outstanding service of the highest order and utmost devotion to duty. The equivalent award for officers was the Southern Cross Decoration (SD).[3][4][5]

Although not prescribed, the practice was generally that the recipient must already have received the Pro Merito Medal (PMM).[3]

Order of wear

The position of the Pro Merito Decoration in the official order of precedence was revised three times after 1975 to accommodate the inclusion or institution of new decorations and medals, first upon the integration into the South African National Defence Force on 27 April 1994, again in April 1996, when decorations and medals were belatedly instituted for the two former non-statutory forces, the Azanian People's Liberation Army and Umkhonto we Sizwe, and finally upon the institution of a new set of awards on 27 April 2003.[9][10]

South African Defence Force until 26 April 1994

Southern Cross Decoration (SD) Pro Merito Decoration (PMD) Van Riebeeck Medal (VRM)

  • Official SADF order of precedence:
  • Official national order of precedence:
    • Preceded by the Southern Cross Decoration (SD).
    • Succeeded by the Police Star for Distinguished Service (SOO).[9]
South African National Defence Force from 27 April 1994

Southern Cross Decoration (SD) Pro Merito Decoration (PMD) Defence Force Merit Decoration

South African National Defence Force from April 1996

Southern Cross Decoration (SD) Pro Merito Decoration (PMD) Conspicuous Leadership Star (CLS)

  • Official SANDF order of precedence:
  • Official national order of precedence:
    • Preceded by the Southern Cross Decoration (SD) of the Republic of South Africa.
    • Succeeded by the Conspicuous Leadership Star (CLS) of Umkhonto we Sizwe.[10]

The position of the Pro Merito Decoration in the order of precedence remained unchanged, as it was in April 1996, when a new series of military orders, decorations and medals was instituted on 27 April 2003.[10]

Description

Obverse

The Pro Merito Decoration is a silver-gilt Maltese cross, which fits in a circle 45 millimetres in diameter. The arms of the cross are in white enamel, with a disa uniflora, in red enamel, on a framed roundel in dark blue enamel in the centre. A protea attaches the decoration to the ribbon suspender.[3]

Reverse

The reverse has the pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms in the centre, with the silver hallmark below it and the decoration number impressed on the bottom arm of the cross.

Pro Merito Decoration and Bar
Bar

The Bar is silver-gilt and has an emblem, depicting a Protea, embossed in the centre. The same bar was used to indicate multiple awards of the Pro Virtute Decoration, Southern Cross Decoration, Pro Merito Decoration and Ad Astra Decoration.[11]

Ribbon

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and dark blue, with a 4 millimetres wide white band in the centre.

Discontinuation

Conferment of the decoration was discontinued in respect of services performed on or after 27 April 2003, when the Southern Cross Decoration and the Pro Merito Decoration were both replaced by the new iPhrothiya yeGolide.[7][12]

References

  1. ↑ South African Medal Website – Post-nominal Letters (Accessed 28 April 2015)
  2. ↑ SA Army – Uniform: Former Forces Medals – South African Defence Force (SADF)
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 South African Medal Website - SA Defence Force : 1975-2003 (Accessed 30 April 2015)
  4. 1 2 Alexander, E.G.M., Barron, G.K.B. and Bateman, A.J. (1986). South African Orders, Decorations and Medals. Human and Rousseau.
  5. 1 2 Monick, S. (1988). South African Military Awards 1912–1987. South African National Museum of Military History.
  6. 1 2 South African Medal Website – SA Defence Force: 1952–1975 (Accessed 30 April 2015)
  7. 1 2 Republic of South Africa Government Gazette, Vol. 457, no. 25213, Pretoria, 25 July 2003
  8. 1 2 3 Republic of South Africa Government Gazette no. 15093, Pretoria, 3 September 1993
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005. OCLC 72827981 In the document, the printed identification number is 9771682584003.
  10. ↑ Mussell, John W.; Editorial Team of Medal News (2004). Mackay, James (ed.). The Medal Yearbook 2004. Devon, UK: Token Publishing Ltd. p. 380. ISBN 978-1-870192-62-0.
  11. ↑ Republic of South Africa Government Gazette no. 26778, Pretoria, 17 September 2004
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