Danie Theron Medal

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Danie Theron Medal
Danie Theron Medal.jpg
Awarded by the State President
Country  South Africa
Type Military decoration for merit
Eligibility Members of the Commandos
* Officers only from 1970 to 1975
* All ranks after 1975
Awarded for Exceptionally diligent and outstanding service
Status Discontinued in 1993
Post-nominals DTM
Statistics
Established 1970
First awarded 1971
SADF pre-1994 & SANDF post-2002 orders of wear
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Ribbon - Danie Theron Medal.gif
Ribbon bar

The Danie Theron Medal, post-nominal letters DTM, is a military decoration that was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1970 and that was in use until 1993. It was awarded for diligent service in the Commandos, the rural defence component of the South African Defence Force. Originally reserved for officers, it was available to all ranks from 1975.[1]

The South African military

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).[2][3][4][5][6]

Institution

The Danie Theron Medal, post-nominal letters DTM, was instituted by the State President in 1970.[2]

Award criteria

The medal could be awarded in times of peace or war to members of the Commandos, the rural defence component of the South African Defence Force, for exceptionally diligent and outstanding service. The medal was named after Danie Theron, a legendary Boer scout and guerilla warrior who fought valiantly in the Second Boer War.[2]

Further conditions were that the recipient must be a South African citizen who had completed ten years service in the SADF and who had not yet received an award for devotion to duty or diligent service.[7]

From 1970 to 1975 the Danie Theron Medal was awarded to officers only, since the Jack Hindon Medal (JHM) was the equivalent award for other ranks. When the Jack Hindon Medal was discontinued in 1975, the Danie Theron Medal became available for all ranks.[2][3]

Order of wear

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Main article: South African military decorations order of wear § Order of wear

The position of the Danie Theron Medal in the official order of precedence was revised three times after 1975 to accommodate the inclusion or institution of new decorations and medals, first with the integration into the South African National Defence Force on 27 April 1994, again in April 1996 when decorations and medals were belatedly instituted for the two former non-statutory forces, the Azanian People's Liberation Army and Umkhonto we Sizwe, and finally with the institution of a new set of awards on 27 April 2003.[8][9]

South African Defence Force until 26 April 1994

Pro Merito Medal (1975) (PMM) Danie Theron Medal (DTM) Jack Hindon Medal (JHM)

  • Official national order of precedence:
    • Preceded by the Department of Correctional Services Medal for Merit (Non-Commissioned Officers).
    • Succeeded by the Jack Hindon Medal (JHM).[8]
South African National Defence Force from 27 April 1994

Marumo Medal, Class I Danie Theron Medal (DTM) Jack Hindon Medal (JHM)

  • Official national order of precedence:
    • Preceded by the Correctional Services Medal for Merit (Non-Commissioned Officers) of the KwaZulu Homeland.
    • Succeeded by the Jack Hindon Medal (JHM) of the Republic of South Africa.[9]
South African National Defence Force from April 1996

Silver Medal for Merit (SMM) Danie Theron Medal (DTM) Jack Hindon Medal (JHM)

  • Official national order of precedence:
    • Preceded by the Correctional Services Medal for Merit (Non-Commissioned Officers) of the KwaZulu Homeland.
    • Succeeded by the Jack Hindon Medal (JHM) of the Republic of South Africa.[9]
South African National Defence Force from 27 April 2003

iPhrothiya yeSiliva (PS) Danie Theron Medal (DTM) Jack Hindon Medal (JHM)

  • Official SANDF order of precedence:
    • Preceded by the iPhrothiya yeSiliva (PS) of the Republic of South Africa.
    • Succeeded by the Jack Hindon Medal (JHM) of the Republic of South Africa.[9]
  • Official national order of precedence:

Description

Obverse

The Danie Theron Medal is a medallion struck in silver, 38 millimetres in diameter and 3 millimetres thick, depicting an eagle raising its wings on the obverse and inscribed "DANIE THERON" around the perimeter at the top and "MEDALJE • MEDAL" at the bottom.[2]

Reverse

The pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms is on the reverse. The decoration number was impressed at the bottom of the medal on the rim.

Ribbon

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide, green with three 4 millimetres wide yellow bands spaced 5 millimeters apart in the centre.

Discontinuation

Conferment of the decoration was discontinued in respect of services performed after 1993.

References

  1. ↑ South African Medal Website - Post-nominal Letters (Accessed 28 April 2015)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 South African Medal Website - SA Defence Force : 1952-1975 (Accessed 30 April 2015)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 South African Medal Website - SA Defence Force : 1975-2003 (Accessed 30 April 2015)
  4. ↑ Suid-Afrikaanse militêre dekorasies: 1952-1975
  5. ↑ Suid-Afrikaanse militêre dekorasies: 1975-2003
  6. ↑ Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 457, no. 25213, Pretoria, 25 July 2003
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Republic of South Africa Government Gazette no. 15093, Pretoria, 3 September 1993
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, OCLC 72827981
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