De Wet Decoration
The De Wet Decoration, post-nominal letters DWD, is a military long service decoration which was instituted by the
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).[1][2][4]
Institution
The De Wet Decoration, post-nominal letters DWD, was instituted by the State President,
Award criteria
The decoration could be awarded to officers of the
A clasp could be awarded to holders of the De Wet Decoration after 30 years service. When medals are not worn, recipients of the clasp wear a button with the encircled letters "DWD" on the ribbon bar.[2]
Order of wear
The position of the De Wet Decoration in the official order of precedence was revised three times to accommodate the institution or addition of new decorations and medals, first upon the integration into the South African National Defence Force on 27 April 1994, again when decorations and medals were belatedly instituted in April 1996 for the two former non-statutory forces, the
- Official SANDF order of precedence
- Preceded by the John Chard Decoration (JCD) of the Republic of South Africa.
- Succeeded by the Cadet Corps Medal of the Republic of South Africa.[7][8]
- Official national order of precedence
- Preceded by the John Chard Decoration (JCD) of the Republic of South Africa.
- Succeeded by the Cadet Corps Medal of the Republic of South Africa.[7][8]
Description
- Obverse
The De Wet Decoration is a medallion, struck in silver, 38 millimetres in diameter and 3 millimetres thick, depicting Second Boer War General Christiaan de Wet on horseback, surrounded by a wreath of proteas and inscribed "DEKORASIE ~ DE WET ~ DECORATION".[1]
- Reverse
The reverse has the pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms, with the decoration number impressed or engraved below.
- Ribbon
The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide, with a 3 millimetres wide green band, a 2 millimetres wide white band and an 8 millimetres wide yellow band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 6 millimetres wide dark blue band in the centre. The green and yellow colours have their origin in the ribbon colours of the three awards which were belatedly instituted in 1920, as retrospective awards for Boer veteran officers and men of the
- Clasp
The clasp is in silver, with the encircled letters "DWD" embossed in the centre. Two versions of the clasp exist, the original with the tops and bottoms of the characters "DWD" following the circumference of the circle, and a second version with the bottoms of the characters in line. Members who had been awarded the clasp wear a silver button, 8 millimetres in diameter and inscribed "DWD", on the ribbon bar when medals are not worn.
Discontinuation
Conferment of the De Wet Decoration was discontinued in respect of services performed on or after 27 April 2003.[4][9]
References
- ^ a b c d e South African Medal Website - SA Defence Force : 1952-1975 (Accessed 30 April 2015)
- ^ a b c South African Medal Website - SA Defence Force : 1975-2003 (Accessed 30 April 2015)
- ^ a b South African Medal Website - Post-nominal Letters (Accessed 28 April 2015)
- ^ a b "Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 457, no. 25213, Pretoria, 25 July 2003" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 September 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
- ^ South African Medal Website - Legal aspects - Fount of Honour (Accessed 1 May 2015)
- ^ Alexander, E.G.M., Barron, G.K.B. and Bateman, A.J. (1986). South African Orders, Decorations and Medals. Human and Rousseau.
- ^ a b c Republic of South Africa Government Gazette no. 15093, Pretoria, 3 September 1993
- ^ OCLC 72827981
- ^ Republic of South Africa Government Gazette no. 26778, Pretoria, 17 September 2004