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Pro Patria Medal Pro Patria Medal ribbon

Pro Patria Medal

South Africa · instituted 1974 · discontinued 2003

A South African campaign medal originally instituted by Presidential Warrant, 23 October 1974 (Government Gazette No. 4490, 8 November 1974) -- the sole criterion then was 6 months' cumulative anti-terrorism service plus "exemplary manner", with no combat exception. GG No. 4932 (19 December 1975) added a combat/skirmish-with-terrorists exception. The whole 1974 Warrant was then repealed and the medal re-instituted afresh by Presidential Warrant, 8 June 1976 (Government Gazette No. 5171, 25 June 1976), for members of the South African Defence Force (or other armed forces attached to/serving with it) who, in defence of the Republic or in the prevention/suppression of terrorism: (a) were involved in combat or a skirmish or a combat situation or an incident caused by enemy activities; or (b) participated in a specific operation acknowledged by Ministerial order (medal and clasp naming the operation) -- in practice this was only ever done once, the Cunene clasp for Operation Savannah, 1975-76; or (c) rendered at least 60 continuous days' service in a designated operational area. Rule 5(c) was amended by GG No. 5575 (3 June 1977) to 55 continuous days OR 90 non-continuous days. The medal may be awarded posthumously (Rule 7) if already earned under (a), (b), or (c) -- dying before completing the qualifying period does not by itself satisfy it. Conferment discontinued for service on or after 27 April 2003 (GG No. 25213, 25 July 2003, a general warrant covering many SANDF honours; its Schedule was corrected by GG No. 26778, 17 September 2004).

Clasps issued with this medal:
Cunene

Wikipedia

Period Rule 5 (qualifying criteria)
23 Oct 1974 – 18 Dec 1975 6 months cumulative service + exemplary manner only
19 Dec 1975 – 7 Jun 1976 combat/skirmish with terrorists (new), or 6 months cumulative + exemplary manner
8 Jun 1976 – 2 Jun 1977 combat/enemy activity, or named operation, or 60 continuous days
3 Jun 1977 – 26 Apr 2003 combat/enemy activity, or named operation, or 55 continuous/90 non-continuous days
Supporting documents
Extract from GG 4490, p.1 (original institution warrant, 23 Oct 1974, signed by State President J.J. Fouche -- superseded by GG 5171, 8 Jun 1976)
Extract from GG 4490, p.1 (original institution warrant, 23 Oct 1974, signed by State President J.J. Fouche -- superseded by GG 5171, 8 Jun 1976)
Extract from GG 4490, p.2 (original Rule 5, 23 Oct 1974: 6 months' cumulative anti-terrorism service + exemplary manner -- the ONLY criterion; no combat exception existed until the Dec 1975 amendment)
Extract from GG 4490, p.2 (original Rule 5, 23 Oct 1974: 6 months' cumulative anti-terrorism service + exemplary manner -- the ONLY criterion; no combat exception existed until the Dec 1975 amendment)
Extract from GG 5171, p.30 (institution warrant, 25 Jun 1976)
Extract from GG 5171, p.30 (institution warrant, 25 Jun 1976)
Extract from GG 4932, p.1 (19 Dec 1975 amendment to the ORIGINAL 1974 Pro Patria Medal warrant, dated 23 Oct 1974 -- superseded when GG 5171 repealed and re-instituted the medal, 8 Jun 1976; this amendment added a combat-with-terrorists exception alongside the existing 6-month cumulative service + exemplary manner rule)
Extract from GG 4932, p.1 (19 Dec 1975 amendment to the ORIGINAL 1974 Pro Patria Medal warrant, dated 23 Oct 1974 -- superseded when GG 5171 repealed and re-instituted the medal, 8 Jun 1976; this amendment added a combat-with-terrorists exception alongside the existing 6-month cumulative service + exemplary manner rule)
Extract from GG 5171, p.31 (Rules for the award, Rule 5: 60 continuous days)
Extract from GG 5171, p.31 (Rules for the award, Rule 5: 60 continuous days)
Extract from GG 5171, p.32 (Regulations: grant, annulment, restoration)
Extract from GG 5171, p.32 (Regulations: grant, annulment, restoration)
Extract from GG 5171, p.33 (Regulations continued; definitions)
Extract from GG 5171, p.33 (Regulations continued; definitions)
Extract from GG 5575, p.1 (1977 amendment: Rule 5 changed to 55 continuous / 90 non-continuous days)
Extract from GG 5575, p.1 (1977 amendment: Rule 5 changed to 55 continuous / 90 non-continuous days)
Extract from GG 25213, p.2 (2003 discontinuation warrant -- applies to many SANDF honours, not only this one)
Extract from GG 25213, p.2 (2003 discontinuation warrant -- applies to many SANDF honours, not only this one)
Extract from GG 25213, p.3 (signed 16 Apr 2003, published 25 Jul 2003; discontinues conferment for service on/after 27 Apr 2003)
Extract from GG 25213, p.3 (signed 16 Apr 2003, published 25 Jul 2003; discontinues conferment for service on/after 27 Apr 2003)
Extract from GG 26778, p.6 (17 Sep 2004 correction notice to GG 25213 -- re-lists the Schedule of medals covered, confirming Pro Patria Medal is included)
Extract from GG 26778, p.6 (17 Sep 2004 correction notice to GG 25213 -- re-lists the Schedule of medals covered, confirming Pro Patria Medal is included)
P.F. Roos, "Pro Patria Medal: Types, Variants, Ribbon Accoutrements and Selected Recipients of Interest" -- book cover
P.F. Roos, "Pro Patria Medal: Types, Variants, Ribbon Accoutrements and Selected Recipients of Interest" -- book cover
Roos, Section II Part One: the first 48 posthumous Pro Patria recipients, Roll of Honour (deaths 23 Jun 1974 - 7 Aug 1976)
Roos, Section II Part One: the first 48 posthumous Pro Patria recipients, Roll of Honour (deaths 23 Jun 1974 - 7 Aug 1976)
Roos: Pro Patria Medal PPM #58737 awarded to Pte Robert Wilson, SADF POW held in Angola during Operation Savannah (Oct 1975 - Jan 1976)
Roos: Pro Patria Medal PPM #58737 awarded to Pte Robert Wilson, SADF POW held in Angola during Operation Savannah (Oct 1975 - Jan 1976)

Recipients 965

# Last Name First Name Initials Rank Regiment Bar Date of Death
29450 Bishop Edwin Chaplan E C Rifleman 1 South African Infantry Battalion 1977-12-09
29444 Biggs Kevin John K J Trooper South African Armoured Corps (Corps) 1978-08-23
48626 Biggs Kevin John K J Trooper South African Armoured Corps (Corps) 1978-08-23
29429 Bezuidenhout Christo Francois C F Gunner 61 Mechanised Battalion Group 1983-03-06
29423 Beukes Michael Nicolaas M N Rifleman 4 South African Infantry Battalion 1977-12-25
49268 Beukes H H Rifleman 41 Battalion 1979-08-28
29416 Bester Hercules Petrus H P Corporal 5 South African Infantry Battalion 1982-05-07
29413 Berry Peter David P D Staff Sergeant South West African Territory Force (Corps) 1982-08-18
29408 Bernardo Neville N Rifleman 32 (Buffalo) Battalion 1978-02-08
29409 Bernardo A D B Sergeant South West African Territory Force (Corps) 1977-01-02
48686 Bernade N Rifleman 32 Battalion 1978-02-08
29403 Benson Alwyn Johannes A J Warrant Officer Class II 4 South African Infantry Battalion 1975-11-23
29399 Benecke Melvin Ashley M A Lance Corporal 1 Parachute Battalion 1987-09-06
29392 Bell Etienne Louis E L Corporal 1 Parachute Battalion 1979-07-06
29384 Bekker Charles Deon C D Rifleman 5 South African Infantry Battalion 1979-01-12
29375 Beech Robert Trevor R T Sergeant 44 Parachute Regiment 1982-08-18
29364 Bartie Cecil George C G Lieutenant (Doctor) South African Medical Health Service 1981-09-29
29359 Barrett Russell Hilton R H Rifleman 1 Parachute Battalion 1982-08-09
40810 Barnard Nicolaas Willem N W Lance Corporal 1 SWA Engineer Regiment 1987-01-22
29334 Baptista Arsenio Nicolau Domignos A N D Staff Sergeant 32 (Buffalo) Battalion 1987-11-16
29335 Baptista J Rifleman 32 (Buffalo) Battalion 1982-03-10
29336 Baptista N Rifleman 32 (Buffalo) Battalion 1982-05-29
29331 Bango Mucussi M Private South West African Territory Force (Corps) 1977-01-01
48705 Bampton A N Rifleman 911 Battalion 1980-12-18
29328 Bambo Josia J Sergeant 31 Battalion 1976-02-29
29327 Bambi Matheus M Lance Corporal 32 (Buffalo) Battalion 1982-08-02
29322 Balie Hendrik H Rifleman 41 Battalion 1980-05-18
29298 Badenhorst Antonie A Corporal 1 Reconnaissance Commando 1977-10-28
29301 Badenhorst Hendrik Jacobus H J Private South African Medical Health Service 1981-09-29
29302 Badenhorst Johannes Cornelius J C Sergeant South African Commandos 1977-12-08
29296 Backhouse Edward James E J Rifleman 3 Parachute Battalion 1978-05-04
29291 Awino K Lance Corporal 5 Reconnaissance Regiment 1984-06-08
41453 Awi Filimon F Rifleman 5 Reconnaissance Regiment 1983-10-21
29288 Aurelio Adelino A Corporal 32 (Buffalo) Battalion 1984-01-03
48656 Aukhumeb L Lance Corporal 202 Battalion 1986-02-17
29280 Augusto Carlos Antonio C A Rifleman 32 (Buffalo) Battalion 1987-08-21
29282 Augusto Joao J Rifleman 32 (Buffalo) Battalion 1983-10-20
29283 Augusto J Rifleman South West African Territory Force (Corps) 1991-08-22
29284 Augusto Manuel M Rifleman 32 (Buffalo) Battalion 1980-05-21
29285 Augusto Rodrigues R Rifleman 32 (Buffalo) Battalion 1978-02-08
29269 Aschman Jonathan J Sapper South African Engineer Corps (Corps) 1976-02-05
29266 Arico Xavier X Rifleman 201 Battalion 1984-02-06
48701 Appollus G Rifleman 911 Battalion 1980-09-30
29260 Appelgryn Willie Jacobus W J Rifleman 5 South African Infantry Battalion 1979-12-14
29247 Antonio Domingos D Rifleman 32 (Buffalo) Battalion 1984-10-18
29249 Antonio Gonsalves G Rifleman 32 (Buffalo) Battalion 1987-02-01
29251 Antonio Jose J Corporal 32 (Buffalo) Battalion 1984-06-18
29253 Antonio Pedro Jose P J Rifleman 32 (Buffalo) Battalion 1985-02-13
29242 Angelo Sebastiao S Rifleman 32 (Buffalo) Battalion 1980-05-21
29235 Andre Fernando F Corporal South West African Territory Force (Corps) 1987-04-02