Cadet Corps Medal

Prior to 1966 uniformed members serving in the South African Defence Force

South African Defence Force

The South African Defence Force was the South African armed forces from 1957 until 1994. The former Union Defence Force was renamed to the South African Defence Force in the Defence Act of 1957...

’s Cadet Corps were not rewarded for their long and loyal service to the organization by means of a medal award. This was because no such medal existed at the time in the range of awards available to the members of the uniformed services.

This omission was corrected in 1966 with the institution of the Cadet Corps Medal. The Cadet Corps Medal was one of a few new medals introduced into the SADF during the mid sixties. These new medals were to supplement the 10 awards instituted in 1952. The new medals were instituted to increase the range of possible awards for serving members.

The Cadet Corps Medal officially came into existence on 19 August 1966 when it was published in the South African Government Gazette. The medal was to be awarded to officers serving with merit in the cadet corps. The officers had to serve a qualifying period of 20 years in the cadet corps to be eligible for the award. The service period did not have to be continuous.

In respect of the Cadet Corps Medal’s place in the official order of precedence of SADF awards prior to 1975 – it was ranked below the John Chard Medal and above the Chief SADF Commendation Medal (from 1974). Before 1974 the medal was ranked above the Commandant General’s Medal.

The first awards of the Cadet Corps Medal were promulgated on 24 November 1967 in South African Defence Force Order 134/67.

The Cadet Corps Medal was awarded annually after 1967 to deserving officers in the cadet corps until 1975.

In August 1976 the SADF took a decision that all officers serving in the cadet corps were to be transferred to either the citizen force or the commandos. The resulting implication was that the Cadet Corps Medal became unnecessary in the SADF’s range of awards as the officers were now eligible for the long and meritorious service awards of either the citizen force or the commandos,
depending on in which force they served. The award of the Cadet Corps Medal was consequently discontinued after August 1976.

Although being discontinued as from August 1976, a final award of the Cadet Corps Medal was promulgated in 1978 in South African Defence Force General Order 60/78.

In total the Cadet Corps Medal was awarded to 95 officers over a period of 12 years.

Clasps to the Medal

On three occasions, twice in 1968 and once in 1971 clasps to the Cadet Corps Medal was awarded. Officers in the cadet corps became eligible for a clasp award on completing 30 years meritorious service in the cadet corps. The clasp consisted of a silver bar with a prancing springbok embossed in the centre of the bar.

Publications

Gilbert, Norman, (2009). Cadet Corps Medal: Roll of Recipients. Just Done Productions, Durban
Alexander, Cmdt E.G.M., Barron, Cmdt G.K.B., Bateman, Cmdr A.J., South African Orders, Decorations and Medals, Human & Rousseau, Cape Town, 1986.
Mackay, J., Mussel, J.W. (Editors), Medal Yearbook 2006, Token Publishing Ltd., Devon, 2005.
Monick, Dr S., Medal Publications Part III: A Study of South African Awards 1910 – 1994, South African National Museum of Military History, Johannesburg, 1995.
Monick, Dr S., South African Military Awards 1912 – 1987, South African National Museum of Military History, Johannesburg, 1988.

Unpublished Sources

Various South African Defence Force Orders: 1967 to 1969.
Various South African Defence Force General Orders: 1969 to 1975.