The Honoris Crux Gold was a South African military decoration

South African military decorations

An overview of South African military decorations and medals, which form part of the South African honours system.-1894–1913:The colonial military forces received British military decorations in wartime. From 1894, the colonial governments awarded medals for distinguished conduct and for long...

 that existed from 1975 to 1993. It was the second of the four classes of the Honoris Crux Decoration (see also Honoris Crux Diamond

Honoris Crux Diamond

The Honoris Crux Diamond was a South African military decoration that existed from 1975 to 1993. It was the highest of the four classes of the Honoris Crux Decoration , and was intended to recognise "death-defying heroic deeds of outstanding valour"...

, Honoris Crux Silver

Honoris Crux Silver

The Honoris Crux Silver was a South African military decoration that existed from 1975 to 2003. It was the third of the four classes of the Honoris Crux Decoration The Honoris Crux Silver (HCS) was a South African military decoration that existed from 1975 to 2003. It was the third of the four...

, and Honoris Crux

Honoris Crux

The Honoris Crux Decoration was a South African military decoration that was awarded from 1952 to 2003. There were two distinct versions.-First type:...

). The decoration is awarded for outstanding acts of bravery while in extreme danger and is of silver gilt. A bar may be awarded to a member qualifying for a second award. The bar is precisely the same as the bar to the Honoris Crux Diamond. The recipient is entitled to the post-nominal title HCG.

Five decorations were won in combat, and one in a sea rescue operation. It has been superseded by the Nkwe ya Gauta

Nkwe ya Gauta

The Nkwe ya Gauta is South Africa's highest of the three classes of the Nkwe Decoration The Nkwe ya Gauta is South Africa's highest of the three classes of the Nkwe Decoration The Nkwe ya Gauta is South Africa's highest of the three classes of the Nkwe Decoration (see also Nkwe ya Selefera and...

 decoration.

Recipients

Medal Number	Name	Service	Rank	Unit	Date of award	Action cited for
001		SA 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...	2nd Lieutenant	2nd Field Engineer Regiment, SAEC 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...		First recipient of the Honoris Crux Gold. Cited for clearing a road of landmines while under enemy fire: Angola.
002		SA 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...	2nd Lieutenant	2nd Field Engineer Regiment, SAEC 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...
003		SA 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...	Corporal Corporal Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....	5 Reconnaissance Regiment South African Special Forces Brigade The South African Special Forces Brigade is the only Special Forces unit of the South African National Defence Force .... , SAIC		Awarded for deeds of gallantry on five separate occasions in 1980. .
004		SAAF 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...	Lieutenant Lieutenant A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...	AFB Ondangwa		The most highly decorated SADF member of the Border War. Cited for HCG for risking his life during a night operation in Angola, by turning on the lights of his helicopter to draw enemy fire away from another helicopter.
005		SAAF 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...	Captain Captain (OF-2) The army rank of captain is a commissioned officer rank historically corresponding to command of a company of soldiers. The rank is also used by some air forces and marine forces. Today a captain is typically either the commander or second-in-command of a company or artillery battery...	AFB Ondangwa		Bar to HCG. Cited for landing in enemy territory to search for and rescue the crew of a helicopter that had been shot down.
006		SA Navy South African Navy The South African Navy is the navy of the Republic of South Africa.-Formation:The South African Navy can trace its official origins back to the SA Naval Service, which was established on 1 April 1922....	Able Seaman Able seaman An able seaman is an unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship. An AB may work as a watchstander, a day worker, or a combination of these roles.-Watchstander:...	SAS Scorpion South African Navy The South African Navy is the navy of the Republic of South Africa.-Formation:The South African Navy can trace its official origins back to the SA Naval Service, which was established on 1 April 1922....		Awarded for rescue actions associated with the sinking of MTS Oceanos

See also

• British and Commonwealth orders and decorations
• South African military decorations
  South African military decorations
  An overview of South African military decorations and medals, which form part of the South African honours system.-1894–1913:The colonial military forces received British military decorations in wartime. From 1894, the colonial governments awarded medals for distinguished conduct and for long...
  
  
• Monick, S, (1988). South African Military Awards 1912-1987. South African National Museum of Military History.