The Army Cross, post-nominal letters CM (Crux Militaria), is a
military decoration
Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism, meritorious or outstanding service or achievement. DoD Manual 1348.33, 2010, Vol. 3 A decoration is often a medal consisting of a ribbon and a medal ...
which was instituted by the
Republic of South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
in 1987. It was awarded to members of the
South African Army
The South African Army is the principal land warfare force of South Africa, a part of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), along with the South African Air Force, South African Navy and South African Military Health Service. ...
for bravery. The Army Cross was discontinued in 2003, but backdated awards can still be made for acts of bravery during this period.
[South African Medal Website - Post-nominal Letters](_blank)
(Accessed 28 April 2015)
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).
(Accessed 30 April 2015)
(Accessed 30 April 2015)[ Suid-Afrikaanse militêre dekorasies: 1952-1975][ Suid-Afrikaanse militêre dekorasies: 1975-2003][Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 457, no. 25213, Pretoria, 25 July 2003](_blank)
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Institution
The Army Cross, post-nominal letters CM (Crux Militaria), was instituted by the State President in 1987.
(Accessed 1 May 2015)
Award criteria
The cross was initially awarded for exceptional ingenuity, resourcefulness and skill, and extraordinary leadership, dedication, sense of duty and personal example and courage in mortal danger in non-combatant situations. After 1993, it was awarded for exceptional courage, leadership, skill, ingenuity or tenacity in dangerous or critical situations. A Bar, instituted in 1993, could be awarded in recognition of further similar displays of courage, leadership, skill, ingenuity or tenacity in danger.
It was first awarded in 1992, to Corporal D.H. Maritz and Private H.B. Smit, who recovered a disabled tank during a battle in Angola.
Order of wear
The position of the Army Cross 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 Azanian People's Liberation Army
The Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA), formerly known as Poqo, was the military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress, an African nationalist movement in South Africa. In the Xhosa language, the word 'Poqo' means 'pure'.
After attacks on ...
and Umkhonto we Sizwe, and again when a new series of military decorations and medals was instituted in South Africa on 27 April 2003, but it remained unchanged on all three occasions.[Republic of South Africa Government Gazette no. 15093, Pretoria, 3 September 1993][Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, ]
;Official SANDF order of precedence:
* Preceded by the Ad Astra Decoration (AAD).
* Succeeded by the Air Force Cross (CA).
;Official national order of precedence:
* Preceded by the Ad Astra Decoration (AAD).
* Succeeded by the Air Force Cross (CA).
Description
;Obverse
The Army Cross is a pointed cross, struck in silver, to fit in a circle 45 millimetres in diameter, with the South African Army springbok emblem in the centre on a red roundel, 18 millimetres in diameter.
;Reverse
The reverse has the pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms, with the decoration number impressed underneath.
;Bar
The Bar was struck in silver and has an emblem, depicting a Protea
''Protea'' () is a genus of South African flowering plants, also called sugarbushes (Afrikaans: ''suikerbos'').
Etymology
The genus ''Protea'' was named in 1735 by Carl Linnaeus, possibly after the Greek god Proteus, who could change his form a ...
, embossed in the centre. The same bar was used to indicate multiple awards of the Pro Virtute Medal
The Pro Virtute Medal, post-nominal letters PVM, was a South African military decorations, military decoration for bravery that was instituted by the South Africa, Republic of South Africa in 1987, but never awarded. The decoration was intended ...
, Army Cross, Air Force Cross, Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps' second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is eq ...
, Medical Service Cross
The Medical Service Cross, post-nominal letters CC (Crux Curationis), is a military decoration which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1987. It was awarded to members of the South African Medical Service for bravery. The Medica ...
, Southern Cross Medal (1975)
The Southern Cross Medal of 1975, post-nominal letters SM, is a military decoration which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. It was awarded to officers of the South African Defence Force for exceptionally meritorious ...
and Pro Merito Medal (1975)
The Pro Merito Medal of 1975, post-nominal letters PMM, is a military decoration which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. It was awarded to other ranks of the South African Defence Force for exceptionally meritorious ...
.
;Ribbon
The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and white, with a 12 millimetres wide Army orange centre band.
Discontinuation
Conferment of the decoration was discontinued in respect of services performed on or after 27 April 2003.
Recipients
Since inclusion in the table itself is impractical, the actions cited for follow below the table. The list of recipients is not complete.
Actions cited for
References
{{South African military decorations and medals
Military decorations and medals of South Africa
Courage awards
1987 establishments in South Africa
Awards established in 1987
2003 disestablishments in South Africa
Awards disestablished in 2003