- Honoris Crux
Infobox Military Award
name=Honoris Crux Decoration - 1st Type
caption= Ribbon: 32mm, green with red and white edges
awarded_by=South African Defence Force
type=Medal
eligibility=
for=Gallantry in action against the enemy
status=Discontinued
first_award= 1973
last_award= 1975
total= 5
individual=The Honoris Crux Decoration was a South African military decoration that was in use from 1952 to 2003. There were two distinct versions.
The first type, introduced on
6 April 1952, was awarded for gallantry in action against the enemy in the field. It was a silver-gilt Maltese cross with eagles between the arms. The obverse was green, with an orange-white-blue centre disc framed in a red circle inscribed "Honoris Crux". The reverse displayed the 1910 South African national coat of arms, and specimens made before 1961 also had Queen Elizabeth II's royal cipher E II R. The ribbon was green with red and white edges.Only five awards were made, all to members of the
South African Air Force , the first in 1973 and the others in 1975.Infobox Military Award
name=Honoris Crux Decoration - 2nd Type
caption= Ribbon: 32mm, orange with white edges and white line inset from each edge
awarded_by=South African Defence Force
type=Decoration
eligibility=
for= Bravery while in danger of life, while facing an armed enemy
status=Discontinued
first_award= 1976
last_award= 2004
total= 201The second type, introduced on
1 July 1975, was awarded for bravery in dangerous circumstances, and while most of the awards were won in action, some were non-combat. The rules were later amended to restrict the awarding of HC for bravery in combat action while in danger of life. 201 decorations were awarded between 1976 and 2004.The second-type HC was a silver Maltese cross superimposed on crossed swords and a wreath of protea flowers and leaves. Its obverse is enamelled white, with an orange-white-blue centre disc. The reverse displays the national coat of arms. The ribbon is orange, with white edges and a white line inset from each edge.
The South African military unit awarded the most Honoris Crux Decorations is the South African Special Forces, whose personnel were awarded a total of forty-six Honoris Crux Decorations during the South African Border War in South West Africa (Namibia) and Angola.
The last Honoris Crux Decoration was awarded in October 2004 to a retired Special Forces operator, for bravery in action during the war in Angola in 1987. It was awarded by the Chief of the South African National Defence Force. The Citation for this decoration had been handed in by officers of the former SADF, and was approved by officers of the new SANDF.
The Honoris Crux Decoration was discontinued, and replaced by the
Nkwe ya Gauta on27 April 2003 .The Last Honoris Crux
"Taken from the Pretoria News, as published on 25 October 2004"The last of the SA National Defence Force's Honoris Crux bravery medals has been handed to a retired Special Forces soldier for gallantry in action during the war in Angola. The Honoris Crux, instituted during the former SA Defence Force era, was replaced last year by a new decoration, part of a new series of military medals reflecting transformation since April 1994. The recipient of the last Honoris Crux - South Africa's equivalent of Britain's Victoria Cross and the American Congressional Medal of Honor - was former Special Forces operator Stuart Sterzel. Details of the action for which Sterzel was awarded the medal were sketchy - all the official notes said was that he showed "great bravery during a military operation against an armed enemy while his own life was in danger". Sterzel would not elaborate on the events in 1987 for which he was cited. At that time, the SADF was involved in Angola in some of the biggest land battles fought on the African continent since the Battle of El Alamein in 1942. It fought, along with its Unita allies, against a combined Angolan/Swapo/Cuban, Russian and Eastern Bloc force. pretorianews.co.za 25 Oct 04
References
* Alexander, E. G. M., Barron G. K. B. and Bateman, A. J. (1986). "South African Orders, Decorations and Medals". Human and Rousseau.
* Monick, S. (1988). "South African Military Awards 1912-1987". South African National Museum of Military History.
ee also
*
British and Commonwealth orders and decorations
*South African military decorations External links
* [http://www.geocities.com/militaf/mil75.htm/ South African Medals Website]
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