Efficiency Medal (South Africa)
Encyclopedia
The Efficiency Medal was approved by a Royal Warrant
dated 29 December 1939, for award to men who had completed twelve years' qualifying service in the volunteer Army
and Air Force
Citizen Force
of the Union of South Africa
It was extended to the South African Naval Forces from 1942.
Officers were awarded the Efficiency Decoration (South Africa)
.
bore the sovereign's effigy of George VI
. The reverse
bore the inscription: VIR BEKWAME DIENS/FOR EFFICIENT SERVICE.
The fixed suspender bar was decorated with two palm leaves and bore the inscription UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA – UNIE VAN SUID-AFRIKA.
The name of recipient was inscribed on the rim of the medal.
The ribbon was 32mm plain dark green with 3mm yellow edges.
This medal was replaced in 1952 by the John Chard Medal
which was awarded to both officers and men alike.
Royal sign-manual
The royal sign manual is the formal name given in the Commonwealth realms to the autograph signature of the sovereign, by the affixing of which the monarch expresses his or her pleasure either by order, commission, or warrant. A sign-manual warrant may be either an executive actfor example, an...
dated 29 December 1939, for award to men who had completed twelve years' qualifying service in the volunteer Army
South African Army
The South African Army is the army of South Africa, first formed after the Union of South Africa was created in 1910.The South African military evolved within the tradition of frontier warfare fought by commando forces, reinforced by the Afrikaners' historical distrust of large standing armies...
and Air Force
South African Air Force
The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
Citizen Force
Citizen Force
The Citizen Force was the name of the general military reserve force of several British Commonwealth countries.-Australian:Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, the reserve military force has been known by many names, including the Citizens Forces, the Citizen Military Forces, the Militia and,...
of the Union of South Africa
Union of South Africa
The Union of South Africa is the historic predecessor to the present-day Republic of South Africa. It came into being on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the previously separate colonies of the Cape, Natal, Transvaal and the Orange Free State...
It was extended to the South African Naval Forces from 1942.
Officers were awarded the Efficiency Decoration (South Africa)
Efficiency Decoration (South Africa)
The Efficiency Decoration was a distinctive award to recognise long and meritorious service of at least twenty years as an officer in the volunteer Army and Air Force Citizen Force of the Union of South Africa...
.
Description
The medal in silver was oval in shape with a height of 39mm and a width of 32mm. The obverseObverse and reverse
Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse...
bore the sovereign's effigy of George VI
George VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
. The reverse
Obverse and reverse
Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse...
bore the inscription: VIR BEKWAME DIENS/FOR EFFICIENT SERVICE.
The fixed suspender bar was decorated with two palm leaves and bore the inscription UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA – UNIE VAN SUID-AFRIKA.
The name of recipient was inscribed on the rim of the medal.
The ribbon was 32mm plain dark green with 3mm yellow edges.
Further awards
A clasp, denoted by a silver rose emblem, could be earned for each additional qualifying period of six years. If an Efficiency Medal holder was commissioned later in his career, half of all service counting towards the award of the Efficiency Medal could be reckoned for the Efficiency Decoration.This medal was replaced in 1952 by the John Chard Medal
John Chard Medal
The John Chard Medal was instituted with effect from 6 April 1952 to replace the Efficiency Medal and the Air Efficiency Award which was previously awarded to members of the Citizen Force between 1939 and 1952...
which was awarded to both officers and men alike.
Internal links
- Efficiency MedalEfficiency MedalThe Efficiency Medal was a medal of Britain and the Commonwealth awarded for long service in the Territorial Army of the UK, the Indian Volunteer Forces and Colonial Auxiliary Forces....
- Efficiency DecorationEfficiency DecorationThe Efficiency Decoration is a defunct medal of Britain and the Commonwealth awarded for long service in the Territorial Army of the UK, the Indian Volunteer Forces and Colonial Auxiliary Forces....
- Efficiency Decoration (South Africa)Efficiency Decoration (South Africa)The Efficiency Decoration was a distinctive award to recognise long and meritorious service of at least twenty years as an officer in the volunteer Army and Air Force Citizen Force of the Union of South Africa...
- John Chard DecorationJohn Chard DecorationThe John Chard Decoration was a South African military medal that was in use from 1952 to 2003. It was awarded to members of the Citizen Force who completed twenty years qualifying service, provided they had already earned the John Chard Medal...
- John Chard MedalJohn Chard MedalThe John Chard Medal was instituted with effect from 6 April 1952 to replace the Efficiency Medal and the Air Efficiency Award which was previously awarded to members of the Citizen Force between 1939 and 1952...
Further reading
- Monick, S, (1988). South African Military Awards 1912-1987. South African National Museum of Military History, Johannesburg.