The Independence Medal was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana to commemorate that country's independence on 6 December 1977. It was awarded to all ranks on the active strength of the Bophuthatswana Defence Force upon independence.[1][2]
Independence Medal
Type
Military commemorative medal
Awarded for
Commemoration of the independence of Bophuthatswana
The Bophuthatswana Defence Force (BDF) was established upon that country's independence on 6 December 1977. The Republic of Bophuthatswana ceased to exist on 27 April 1994 and the Bophuthatswana Defence Force was amalgamated with six other military forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).[3][4][5]
Institutionedit
The Independence Medal was instituted by the State President of Bophuthatswana to commemorate the independence of the Republic of Bophuthatswana on 6 December 1977.[1][6]
Award criteriaedit
The medal was awarded to all ranks who were on the active strength of the Bophuthatswana Defence Force upon independence, including members on detached duty from the South African Defence Force. While the medal is known to have been instituted and awarded, no warrant has yet been traced.[1][7]
Since the Independence Medal was authorised for wear by one of the statutory forces which came to be part of the South African National Defence Force on 27 April 1994, it was accorded a position in the official South African order of precedence on that date.[7]
The position of the Independence Medal in the order of precedence remained unchanged, as it was on 27 April 1994, 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 orders, decorations and medals was instituted in South Africa on 27 April 2003.[7]
Descriptionedit
Obverse
The Independence Medal is a gilt disk, 38 millimetres in diameter and 3 millimetres thick at the rim, displaying the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in colour on a white enameled background.[8]
Reverse
The reverse shows the face of a leopard over the inscription "6-12-77", the date of Bophuthatswana's independence.
Ribbon
The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide, with a 3 millimetres wide red band, an 8 millimetres wide cobalt blue band, a 4 millimetres wide dark yellow (cadmium) band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 2 millimetres wide green band. Cobalt blue and cadmium are the principal colours of the national flag of Bophuthatswana.[2]
Discontinuationedit
Conferment of the Independence Medal was discontinued in 1977.
Referencesedit
^ abcSouth African Medal Website - Bophuthatswana Defence Force (Accessed 30 April 2015)
^ abRepublic of Bophuthatswana Constitution Act, 1977
^South Africa Homeland Militaries, May 1996 (Accessed 1 May 2015)
^Peled, Alon (1998), A Question of Loyalty: Military Manpower Policy in Multiethnic States, Cornell Studies in Security Affairs, Ithaca: Cornell University Press, pp. 50f, ISBN0-8014-3239-1
^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.
^South African Medal Website - Legal aspects - Fount of Honour (Accessed 1 May 2015)
^ abcdefgRepublic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, OCLC 72827981
^. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2014.
May 04, 2024
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The Independence Medal was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana to commemorate that country s independence on 6 December 1977 It was awarded to all ranks on the active strength of the Bophuthatswana Defence Force upon independence 1 2 Independence MedalTypeMilitary commemorative medalAwarded forCommemoration of the independence of BophuthatswanaCountryBophuthatswanaPresented bythe State PresidentEligibilityAll ranksStatusDiscontinued in 1977Established1977Ribbon barBDF pre 1994 amp SANDF post 2002 orders of wearNext higher BDF precedence General Service Medal SANDF precedence Independence MedalNext lower BDF succession Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct Gold SANDF succession Independence Medal Contents 1 The Bophuthatswana Defence Force 2 Institution 3 Award criteria 4 Order of wear 5 Description 6 Discontinuation 7 ReferencesThe Bophuthatswana Defence Force editThe Bophuthatswana Defence Force BDF was established upon that country s independence on 6 December 1977 The Republic of Bophuthatswana ceased to exist on 27 April 1994 and the Bophuthatswana Defence Force was amalgamated with six other military forces into the South African National Defence Force SANDF 3 4 5 Institution editThe Independence Medal was instituted by the State President of Bophuthatswana to commemorate the independence of the Republic of Bophuthatswana on 6 December 1977 1 6 Award criteria editThe medal was awarded to all ranks who were on the active strength of the Bophuthatswana Defence Force upon independence including members on detached duty from the South African Defence Force While the medal is known to have been instituted and awarded no warrant has yet been traced 1 7 Order of wear editMain article South African military decorations order of wear Order of wear Since the Independence Medal was authorised for wear by one of the statutory forces which came to be part of the South African National Defence Force on 27 April 1994 it was accorded a position in the official South African order of precedence on that date 7 Bophuthatswana Defence Force until 26 April 1994 nbsp nbsp nbsp Official BDF order of precedence Preceded by the General Service Medal Succeeded by the Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct Gold 7 Bophuthatswana official national order of precedence Preceded by the General Service Medal Succeeded by the Independence Police Medal 7 South African National Defence Force from 27 April 1994 nbsp nbsp nbsp Official SANDF order of precedence Preceded by the Independence Medal of the Republic of Transkei Succeeded by the Independence Medal of the Republic of Venda 7 Official national order of precedence Preceded by the Independence Medal of the Republic of Transkei Succeeded by the Independence Police Medal of the Republic of Bophuthatswana 7 The position of the Independence Medal in the order of precedence remained unchanged as it was on 27 April 1994 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 orders decorations and medals was instituted in South Africa on 27 April 2003 7 Description editObverse The Independence Medal is a gilt disk 38 millimetres in diameter and 3 millimetres thick at the rim displaying the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in colour on a white enameled background 8 Reverse The reverse shows the face of a leopard over the inscription 6 12 77 the date of Bophuthatswana s independence Ribbon The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide with a 3 millimetres wide red band an 8 millimetres wide cobalt blue band a 4 millimetres wide dark yellow cadmium band repeated in reverse order and separated by a 2 millimetres wide green band Cobalt blue and cadmium are the principal colours of the national flag of Bophuthatswana 2 Discontinuation editConferment of the Independence Medal was discontinued in 1977 References edit a b c South African Medal Website Bophuthatswana Defence Force Accessed 30 April 2015 a b Republic of Bophuthatswana Constitution Act 1977 South Africa Homeland Militaries May 1996 Accessed 1 May 2015 Peled Alon 1998 A Question of Loyalty Military Manpower Policy in Multiethnic States Cornell Studies in Security Affairs Ithaca Cornell University Press pp 50f ISBN 0 8014 3239 1 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 South African Medal Website Legal aspects Fount of Honour Accessed 1 May 2015 a b c d e f g Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol 477 no 27376 Pretoria 11 March 2005 OCLC 72827981 Uniform SA Army Former Forces Medals Bophuthatswana Defence Force BDF Archived from the original on 23 September 2015 Retrieved 8 June 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Independence Medal Bophuthatswana amp oldid 1175802828, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
