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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 The whole 1974 Warrant was then repealed and the medal re-instituted afresh by Presidential Warrant, 8 June 1976 (Government Gazette No. 5171, 25 June 1976), for members of the South African Defence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Extract from GG 4490, p.1 (original institution warrant, 23 Oct 1974, signed by State President J.J. Fouche -- superseded by GG 5171, 8 Jun 1976)
Extract from GG 4490, p.1 (original institution warrant, 23 Oct 1974, signed by State President J.J. Fouche -- superseded by GG 5171, 8 Jun 1976)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
32664 Retief Christo C Gunner 4 Field Regiment 1975-11-14
32666 Retief Dirk Wilhelmus Marthinus D W M Sergeant 19 Squadron 1979-09-06
32663 Renken Andries Dawid A D Corporal 2 Recconaissance Regiment 1986-11-13
32653 Redelinghuys Andre Johannes A J Rifleman 8 South African Infantry Battalion 1980-05-05
32654 Redelinghuys Johann J Lance Corporal South African Medical Health Service 1987-11-17
32637 Ras Jacob Johannes J J Flight Sergeant South African Air Force (Corps) 1983-05-20
32611 Rademeyer Andries Hercules Du Bruyn A H d B Captain 101 Battalion 1987-10-31
32585 Prinsloo Anton A Corporal 203 Battalion 1988-07-02
32597 Prinsloo Willem Johannes Steenkamp W J S Sapper 2 Field Engineer Regiment 1980-03-07
32582 Prins David D Rifleman Cape Corps 1983-08-27
32580 Price William Arthur Frederick (billy) W A F Lance Corporal 4 South African Infantry Battalion 1988-02-17
32567 Pretorius Johann J Trooper 1 Special Service Battalion 1986-05-28
32571 Pretorius Johannes Lodewicus J L Rifleman 4 South African Infantry Battalion 1984-01-04
32574 Pretorius Pieter Daniel P D Rifleman 4 South African Infantry Battalion 1984-01-04
32549 Potgieter Johan Diederik J D Brigadier Free State Command 1976-01-04
32550 Potgieter Johan Hendrik J H Rifleman South West African Territory Force (Corps) 1982-04-15
32552 Potgieter Johan Louis J L Corporal 1 South African Infantry Battalion 1981-11-04
32540 Poole Liam Myles L M Commandant South African Air Force (Corps) 1978-02-19
32536 Pond Mark Anthony M A Corporal South West African Territory Force (Corps) 1985-05-11
48712 Plaaitjies M Rifleman 911 Battalion 1981-05-31
32521 Pietersen Christiaan Wilhelm C W Lieutenant 31 Squadron 1982-08-09
30320 Philipus Noreneus N Rifleman 101 Battalion 1983-05-29
32475 Petrus James Flack F Lance Corporal 101 Battalion 1988-05-04
32476 Petrus James Flack J Rifleman 101 Battalion 1988-05-04
32477 Petrus James Flack V Rifleman 101 Battalion 1987-10-31
32471 Peterson Brian Gerald B G Corporal 701 Battalion 1982-05-20
32473 Peterson Marius M Rifleman 1 South African Infantry Battalion 1982-04-15
32469 Petersen Dawid D Corporal 54 Battalion 1988-01-23
32459 Pedro Joaquim J Rifleman 32 (Buffalo) Battalion 1987-11-16
32460 Pedro Rui R Rifleman 32 (Buffalo) Battalion 1977-09-11
32455 Pearson Leon Frederick L F Rifleman 4 South African Infantry Battalion 1984-01-04
32451 Pavlakis Nikolaos N Rifleman South African Infantry Corps (Corps) 1979-03-28
32447 Paulus Andreas A Rifleman 32 (Buffalo) Battalion 1980-06-10
32448 Paulus Antonio A Rifleman 101 Battalion 1984-04-29
32449 Paulus Antonio J Rifleman 101 Battalion 1984-10-29
32443 Paulo Christiaan Hendrik C Corporal 32 (Buffalo) Battalion 1984-09-17
32444 Paulo Domingos D Rifleman 32 (Buffalo) Battalion 1981-08-28
32434 Patrick Timothy Simmons T S Second Lieutenant 32 (Buffalo) Battalion 1980-05-21
32424 Park James King J K Lance Corporal 5 Reconnaissance Regiment 1981-01-30
32408 Osborne Nigel David N D Lieutenant 19 Squadron 1979-09-06
32400 Opperman Andre Leon A L Second Lieutenant 32 (Buffalo) Battalion 1978-09-06
32396 Oosthuyse Hendrik Albertus H A Sergeant 10 Anti Aircraft Regiment 1983-12-18
32394 Oosthuizen Phillipus Jocob Rudolph P J R Second Lieutenant 5 South African Infantry Battalion 1980-03-14
32372 Olivier Johannes Gerhardus L J G L Lance Corporal 1 Reconnaissance Regiment 1979-03-21
32373 Olivier John Phillip J P Rifleman Regiment Groot Karoo 1983-05-20
32374 Olivier Nico Smith N S Corporal 1 Parachute Battalion 1987-10-31
48589 Olivier A Rifleman 911 Battalion 1981-08-17
32367 Okohoko J L Rifleman 32 (Buffalo) Battalion 1986-09-01
32352 Oberholzer Antonie A Corporal 2 Field Engineer Regiment 1980-03-07
32354 Oberholzer Lodewikus Johannes L J Rifleman Regiment De Wet 1977-10-26