The De Wet Decoration, post-nominal letters DWD, is a military long service decoration which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1965. It could be awarded to members of the Commandos, the rural civil defence component of the South African Defence Force, for twenty years of efficient service and good conduct. The decoration was initially reserved for officers, but it was made available to all ranks in 1986. A clasp could be awarded after thirty years service.[1][2][3]
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).[1][2][4]
InstitutionEdit
The De Wet Decoration, post-nominal letters DWD, was instituted by the State President, C.R. Swart in 1965. It was named after Second Boer War General Christiaan de Wet. The De Wet Decoration was one of only three South African military awards for long service which entitled the recipient to the use of post-nominal letters, the others being the John Chard Decoration (JCD), which was awarded to Citizen Force members, and the defunct Efficiency Decoration (ED).[1][5]
Award criteriaEdit
The decoration could be awarded to officers of the Commandos, the rural civil defence component of the South African Defence Force, for twenty years of efficient service and good conduct. Award of the decoration was made available to all ranks in 1986.[1][3][6]
A clasp could be awarded to holders of the De Wet Decoration after 30 years service. When medals are not worn, recipients of the clasp wear a button with the encircled letters "DWD" on the ribbon bar.[2]
The position of the De Wet Decoration in the official order of precedence was revised three times to accommodate the institution or addition of new decorations and medals, first upon the integration into the South African National Defence Force on 27 April 1994, again when decorations and medals were belatedly instituted in April 1996 for the two former non-statutory forces, the Azanian People's Liberation Army and Umkhonto we Sizwe, and again when a new series of military decorations and medals was instituted in South Africa on 27 April 2003, but it remained unchanged on all three occasions.[7][8]
Preceded by the John Chard Decoration (JCD) of the Republic of South Africa.
Succeeded by the Cadet Corps Medal of the Republic of South Africa.[7][8]
DescriptionEdit
Obverse
The De Wet Decoration is a medallion, struck in silver, 38 millimetres in diameter and 3 millimetres thick, depicting Second Boer War General Christiaan de Wet on horseback, surrounded by a wreath of proteas and inscribed "DEKORASIE ~ DE WET ~ DECORATION".[1]
Reverse
The reverse has the pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms, with the decoration number impressed or engraved below.
Ribbon
The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide, with a 3 millimetres wide green band, a 2 millimetres wide white band and an 8 millimetres wide yellow band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 6 millimetres wide dark blue band in the centre. The green and yellow colours have their origin in the ribbon colours of the three awards which were belatedly instituted in 1920, as retrospective awards for Boer veteran officers and men of the Second Boer War of 1899–1902, the Dekoratie voor Trouwe Dienst, the Medalje voor de Anglo-Boere Oorlog and the Lint voor Verwonding. For these three awards, these two colours had been gazetted as green and orange, but the orange appeared as yellow on the actual ribbons.
Clasp
The clasp is in silver, with the encircled letters "DWD" embossed in the centre. Two versions of the clasp exist, the original with the tops and bottoms of the characters "DWD" following the circumference of the circle, and a second version with the bottoms of the characters in line. Members who had been awarded the clasp wear a silver button, 8 millimetres in diameter and inscribed "DWD", on the ribbon bar when medals are not worn.
DiscontinuationEdit
Conferment of the De Wet Decoration was discontinued in respect of services performed on or after 27 April 2003.[4][9]
ReferencesEdit
^ abcdeSouth African Medal Website - SA Defence Force : 1952-1975 (Accessed 30 April 2015)
^ abcSouth African Medal Website - SA Defence Force : 1975-2003 (Accessed 30 April 2015)
^ abSouth African Medal Website - Post-nominal Letters (Accessed 28 April 2015)
^ abRepublic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 457, no. 25213, Pretoria, 25 July 2003
^South African Medal Website - Legal aspects - Fount of Honour (Accessed 1 May 2015)
^Alexander, E.G.M., Barron, G.K.B. and Bateman, A.J. (1986). South African Orders, Decorations and Medals. Human and Rousseau.
^ abcRepublic of South Africa Government Gazette no. 15093, Pretoria, 3 September 1993
^ abcRepublic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, OCLC 72827981
^Republic of South Africa Government Gazette no. 26778, Pretoria, 17 September 2004
October 21, 2023
decoration, post, nominal, letters, military, long, service, decoration, which, instituted, republic, south, africa, 1965, could, awarded, members, commandos, rural, civil, defence, component, south, african, defence, force, twenty, years, efficient, service, . The De Wet Decoration post nominal letters DWD is a military long service decoration which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1965 It could be awarded to members of the Commandos the rural civil defence component of the South African Defence Force for twenty years of efficient service and good conduct The decoration was initially reserved for officers but it was made available to all ranks in 1986 A clasp could be awarded after thirty years service 1 2 3 De Wet DecorationTypeMilitary long service decorationAwarded for20 years loyal service and good conductCountry South AfricaPresented bythe State President and from 1994 the PresidentEligibilityMembers of the Commandos Officers only from 1965 to 1986 All ranks after 1986Post nominalsDWDClasps30 years serviceStatusDiscontinued in 2003Established1965Ribbon bars for 20 and 30 years of serviceSADF pre 1994 amp SANDF post 2002 orders of wearNext higher SADF precedence John Chard Decoration SANDF precedence John Chard DecorationNext lower SADF succession Cadet Corps Medal SANDF succession Cadet Corps Medal Contents 1 The South African military 2 Institution 3 Award criteria 4 Order of wear 5 Description 6 Discontinuation 7 ReferencesThe South African military EditThe 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 1 2 4 Institution EditThe De Wet Decoration post nominal letters DWD was instituted by the State President C R Swart in 1965 It was named after Second Boer War General Christiaan de Wet The De Wet Decoration was one of only three South African military awards for long service which entitled the recipient to the use of post nominal letters the others being the John Chard Decoration JCD which was awarded to Citizen Force members and the defunct Efficiency Decoration ED 1 5 Award criteria EditThe decoration could be awarded to officers of the Commandos the rural civil defence component of the South African Defence Force for twenty years of efficient service and good conduct Award of the decoration was made available to all ranks in 1986 1 3 6 A clasp could be awarded to holders of the De Wet Decoration after 30 years service When medals are not worn recipients of the clasp wear a button with the encircled letters DWD on the ribbon bar 2 Order of wear EditMain article South African military decorations order of wear Order of wear The position of the De Wet Decoration in the official order of precedence was revised three times to accommodate the institution or addition of new decorations and medals first upon the integration into the South African National Defence Force on 27 April 1994 again when decorations and medals were belatedly instituted in April 1996 for the two former non statutory forces the Azanian People s Liberation Army and Umkhonto we Sizwe and again when a new series of military decorations and medals was instituted in South Africa on 27 April 2003 but it remained unchanged on all three occasions 7 8 nbsp nbsp nbsp Official SANDF order of precedencePreceded by the John Chard Decoration JCD of the Republic of South Africa Succeeded by the Cadet Corps Medal of the Republic of South Africa 7 8 Official national order of precedencePreceded by the John Chard Decoration JCD of the Republic of South Africa Succeeded by the Cadet Corps Medal of the Republic of South Africa 7 8 Description EditObverseThe De Wet Decoration is a medallion struck in silver 38 millimetres in diameter and 3 millimetres thick depicting Second Boer War General Christiaan de Wet on horseback surrounded by a wreath of proteas and inscribed DEKORASIE DE WET DECORATION 1 ReverseThe reverse has the pre 1994 South African Coat of Arms with the decoration number impressed or engraved below RibbonThe ribbon is 32 millimetres wide with a 3 millimetres wide green band a 2 millimetres wide white band and an 8 millimetres wide yellow band repeated in reverse order and separated by a 6 millimetres wide dark blue band in the centre The green and yellow colours have their origin in the ribbon colours of the three awards which were belatedly instituted in 1920 as retrospective awards for Boer veteran officers and men of the Second Boer War of 1899 1902 the Dekoratie voor Trouwe Dienst the Medalje voor de Anglo Boere Oorlog and the Lint voor Verwonding For these three awards these two colours had been gazetted as green and orange but the orange appeared as yellow on the actual ribbons Clasp nbsp nbsp The clasp is in silver with the encircled letters DWD embossed in the centre Two versions of the clasp exist the original with the tops and bottoms of the characters DWD following the circumference of the circle and a second version with the bottoms of the characters in line Members who had been awarded the clasp wear a silver button 8 millimetres in diameter and inscribed DWD on the ribbon bar when medals are not worn Discontinuation EditConferment of the De Wet Decoration was discontinued in respect of services performed on or after 27 April 2003 4 9 References Edit a b c d e South African Medal Website SA Defence Force 1952 1975 Accessed 30 April 2015 a b c South African Medal Website SA Defence Force 1975 2003 Accessed 30 April 2015 a b South African Medal Website Post nominal Letters Accessed 28 April 2015 a b Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol 457 no 25213 Pretoria 25 July 2003 South African Medal Website Legal aspects Fount of Honour Accessed 1 May 2015 Alexander E G M Barron G K B and Bateman A J 1986 South African Orders Decorations and Medals Human and Rousseau a b c Republic of South Africa Government Gazette no 15093 Pretoria 3 September 1993 a b c Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol 477 no 27376 Pretoria 11 March 2005 OCLC 72827981 Republic of South Africa Government Gazette no 26778 Pretoria 17 September 2004 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title De Wet Decoration amp oldid 1175824911, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
