New medal for old SA armed forces members

**JS4** · 03-04-2013, 09:16

http://www.samvoa.org/sasc.html

South African Service Cross Medal / Die Suid-Afrikaanse Dienskruis Medalje

SAMVOA is proud to announce the release of the South African Service Cross Medal.

The South African Service Cross medal will recognise services rendered by ordinary South African men and women to the Republic of South Africa during the conflict years dated 1957 to 1994, including services rendered in any capacity during the South African Border War.

Unlike many countries, South Africa never instituted or issued a National Service Medal to the thousands of men and women who rendered compulsory National Service. It is also highly unlikely that the South African government, current or future, ever will.

To correct this omission, we the Veterans have taken action. Initially, this Commemorative Medal was to be called the South African National Service Cross. However, it was felt that this would exclude those who rendered service in other capacities, like the South African Police, South African Correctional Services, SADF Permanent Force members and SWA Territorial Force personnel who, whilst serving South Africa, never did National Service. In light of this, it was decided that the medal be named the South African Service Cross, thereby recognising all those who served South Africa during the conflict years of 1957 to 1994, and who never received any or very little recognition for that service.

Since this date, almost 20 years have gone by and still many find it almost impossible to receive the recognition they deserve for their services to the Republic. This injustice is felt by so many that we the Veterans have redressed this wrong by issuing a Commemorative Medal.

Therefore, it was proposed in early 2012 that a Commemoration Medal would be minted, "initiated by Veterans for fellow Veterans" so as to recognise those we still proudly call our "Brothers in Arms" being either ex-SADF Veterans, ex-SWA Territorial Force Veterans or allied forces Veterans. We all answered to the same Call.

This Commemorative Medal is available to all Veterans and supporting services personnel who meet the eligibility criteria, irrespective of their current affiliations, race or sex.

Instituted

The South African Service Cross was instituted by the Executive Committee of the South African Military Veterans Organisation of Australasia (SAMVOA) and the legendary Colonel Jan Breytenbach DVR, SD, SM, MMM (Ret) of 32 Battalion and 44 Parachute Brigade who was present at the SAMVOA AGM in Melbourne, Australia on the 6th of October 2012.

The cross was established to recognise those men and women who have given valued service to the Republic of South Africa between 1957 and 1994 during hostilities and in peacetime, and where those services in many cases have gone unrecognised.

Embossed on the reverse of the medal we thus have the very poignant extract from the former South African National Anthem (Die Stem): "Op jou roepstem / At thy call : 1957 - 1994"

Eligibility

The medal is available to all ex-SADF personnel and our allies who provided combat support or services to the South African Security Forces. Be they conscript National Servicemen, Permanent Force or Volunteer short term service persons or even seconded SAP members during township duty and/or served as civilian members of the arms / defence industries like Armscor, Atlas Air or supported the SADF through contractor logistics / manufacturing enterprises, eligibility for this medal is ensured.

Also known as the "Suid Afrikaanse Dienskruis", this medal is therefore available to those National Service Men and Women, Permanent Force personnel, Commando and Reservist personnel and allied forces who were involved in the "Grensoorlog" or Border War, township duties or rendered service in order to ensure peace during the periods of unrest leading to the free and democratic elections of 1994 when the SADF, which we are proud to have served, was transformed into the current SANDF.

Representation

The ribbon colours represent the former South African National flag.
The medal "jump-ring" connecting the medal and the ribbon represents the South African national flower, the King Protea.
Ribbon devices representing the Army (crossed swords), Air Force (eagle), Navy (anchor) and Medical Services (caduceus) (eligible for SADF members only).
The four arms of the cross represent the four "Arms of Service" namely the Army, Air Force, Navy and Medical Services, converging into the emblem of the SADF.
The two parallel lines on each arm represents the individuals personal sacrifice as they undertook two years of compulsory National Service.
The gold laurel wreath with the former SADF emblem in the centre symbolises the SADF's honourable and distinguished service across numerous theatres of Operation and on the battlefields of Southern Africa.
On the reverse is the former South African Coat of Arms with the dates 1957 – 1994. Embossed are the patriotic words from the former South African National Anthem: "At thy Call – Op jou Roepstem".
The cross comes in a dark blue leatherette box with silver wording embossed on the exterior: "South African Service Cross - Suid Afrikaanse Dienskruis", framing the emblem of the SADF.
Each medal is numbered at the base of the cross and is recorded in the Nominal Role with the recipients' detail.
This is a Commemorative Medal and must be worn on the right breast. It is NOT to be worn on the left breast with any officially issued SADF medals.

Donations made from every medal sold

Proceeds from the sale of each medal will go towards donations being made to various SADF Veterans organisations across the world!

As an organisation, SAMVOA contributed a significant amount to the funds that oversaw the repatriation of the remains of the Ebo four back to South Africa, which was inturned at the SADF Wall of Rememberance in the grounds of the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria.

Wear this medal as a symbol of your pride and as a Veteran of the best fighting force that Africa has ever seen.

Thank you for making this proud investment.

Click here for further information with regards to the South African Service Cross (you will be redirected to the South African Service Cross medal website, which is external from the SAMVOA website).

**JS4** · 03-04-2013, 09:21

http://www.saservicecross.com/

The home of your South African Service Cross,"ons Dienskruis"

Service Cross instituted as recognition by ex-SADF veterans to our "Brothers in Arms"

As we are all well aware, the vast majority of our conscript National Servicemen, numerous Reserve Force "Campers & Commando's" and many longer serving ex-SADF PF brothers did not get the recognition for their honourable services rendered prior to 1994.

Unlike many countries including Australia, Norway, Malaysia and others, South Africa never issued a National Service Medal and it is highly unlikely that the current government ever will. To correct this injustice, we the Veterans have taken action. Initially this Commemorative Medal was to be called the National Service Cross. However, it was felt that this would exclude others, like the SA Police, SA Prison Services, SADF Permanent Force members, SWA Territorial Force personnel who, whilst serving South Africa never did National Service. So, the name was changed to the SA Service Cross to recognise all those that served South Africa between the period 1957 to 1994, and who never received any or very little recognition for that service.

Since this date, almost 20 years have gone by and still many ex-serviceman find it almost impossible to get their well deserved recognition for past services to the Republic. This is a problem felt by so many ex-SADF Veterans, that if formal recognition was never to be forthcoming, we the Veterans would and now have, redressed this wrong by issuing a Commemorative Medal. Therefore, it was proposed in early 2012 that we Veterans would mint our own Commemoration Medal, "initiated by the veterans for fellow veterans" so as to recognise those we still proudly call, our "Brothers in Arms" being either ex-SADF, ex-SWA Territorial Forces and or allied forces Veterans. This Commemorative Medal is available to all Veterans and supporting services personnel who meet the eligibility criteria, irrespective of their current affiliations, race or sex. Instituted The South African Service Cross was instituted by the Executive Committee of the South African Military Veterans Organisation of Australasia (SAMVOA) and the legenadry Colonel Jan Breytenbach DVR,SD, SM, MMM (Ret) of 32 Batallion and 44 Parachute Brigade fame who was present at the annual AGM in Melbourne, Australia on 6th of October 2012. The cross was established to recognise those men and women who have given valued service to the Republic of South Africa between 1957 and 1994 during hostilities and in peacetime, and whose services in many cases have gone unrecognised. On the reverse we thus have the very poignant extract from the then National Anthem (Die Stem) where, at thy nations call, many answered that call, we have "Op jou roepstem / At thy call" 1957 - 1994 Eligibility For all ex-SADF personnel and our allies who provided combat support or services to the South African Security Forces. Be they conscript National Servicemen, Permanent Force or Volunteer short term service persons or even seconded SAP members during Township duty and or served as civilian members of the arms / defence industries like Armscor, Atlas Air or supported the SADF through contractor logistics / manufacturing enterprises, eligibility for this medal is ensured. Also known as the "Suid Afrikaanse Dienskruis", this medal is therefore available for those NSM's, PF's, Campers and allied forces who were involved in the "Grensoorlog"or Border War, Township duties or fought to ensure peace during the periods of unrest leading to free democratic elections in 1994 when the SADF which we are proud to have served, was transfromed into the current SANDF.

		1. The ribbon colours represent the old SA flag, 2. The medal “jump-ring” connecting the medal and the ribbon represents the South African national flower, the King Protea, 3. Miniature crossed swords, eagle, anchor and caduceus, representing Army, Air Force, Navy and Medical Services (eligible for SADF members only), 4. The four arms of the cross represent the four “Arms of Service” namely Army, Air Force, Navy and Medical Services converging into the "joint arms" of the SADF, 5. The parallel lines on each arm represent the individuals personal sacrifice as they undertook their 2 years of compulsory National Service, 6. Gold laurel wreath with old SADF logo in the centre symbolised the SADF's honourable and distinguished service across numerous theatres of Operation and on the battlefields of Southern Africa, 7. On the reverse is the old South African Coat of Arms with the dates 1957 – 1994 and contain the patriotic words from the old South African National Anthem, “ At thy Call – Op jou Roepstem.” 8. The cross comes in a dark blue leatherette box with silver wording embossed on the exterior; "South African Service Cross - Suid Afrikaanse Dienskruis", framing the insignia of the SADF, 9. Each medal is numbered at the base of the cross and is recorded in the Nominal Role with the recipients' detail. 10. This is a Commemorative Medal and must be worn according to the protocols in place with any official organisation to which you are affiliated. Various nations, veteran organisations and associations have different practices which are to be respected, so as a guideline, its suggested that the cross not be worn alongside any officially issued SADF medals, but rather on the right breast of a jacket. However, we realise many veterans and eligible recipients who supported the Security Forces have received no recognition, so in such instances, wearing the cross with pride on your left chest would be appropriate .
Remember, this cross is for those who served and most importantly got NOTHING, It's for our allied “brothers and sisters in arms” who supported us and get NOTHING, It's for those who served us, and will get NOTHING, It’s also for those who have been injured and got NOTHING, It’s for those who died for us and got NOTHING, It’s for the loved ones our buried brothers "left behind", who got NOTHING, It’s for them and its for you.