The General Service Medal is a military campaign 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 could be awarded to members of the South African Defence Force from 1 January 1983, for operational service inside South Africa in the prevention or suppression of terrorism or internal disorder, or the preservation of life, health or property, or the maintenance of essential services and law and order, or crime prevention.South African Medal Website - SA Defence Force : 1975-2003
(Accessed 30 April 2015) In 2002, the Maluti Clasp was authorised for personnel who participated in Operations Boleas and Maluti.

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)

Institution

The General Service Medal was instituted by the State President in 1987.
(Accessed 1 May 2015)

Award criteria

The medal could be awarded from 1 January 1983, to serving members of all ranks of the South African Defence Force for operational service inside South Africa in the prevention or suppression of terrorism or internal disorder, or the preservation of life, health or property, or the maintenance of essential services and law and order, or crime prevention. In effect, it also served as a campaign medal for the State of Emergency operations against Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) and the Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA) from 1985 to 1990. Instituted by warrant on 9 May 2002, the Maluti Clasp was authorised for personnel who participated in Operations Boleas and Maluti in Lesotho.

Order of wear

The position of the General Service Medal in the official order of precedence was revised three times after 1987, to accommodate the inclusion or institution of new decorations and medals, first upon the integration into the South African National Defence Force in 1994, again in April 1996, when decorations and medals were belatedly instituted for the two former non-statutory forces, the Azanian People's Liberation Army and Umkhonto we Sizwe, and finally upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003, but it remained unchanged, as it was on 27 April 1994, on the latter two occasions. ; South African Defence Force until 26 April 1994: UK Queen EII Coronation Medal ribbon

* Official SADF order of precedence: ** Preceded by the Southern Africa Medal. ** Succeeded by the

Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (french: link=no, Médaille du couronnement de la Reine Élizabeth II) is a commemorative medal instituted to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on 2 June 1953. Award This medal was awarded a ...

of the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

. * Official national order of precedence: ** Preceded by the Southern Africa Medal. ** Succeeded by the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal of the United Kingdom.Republic of South Africa Government Gazette no. 15093, Pretoria, 3 September 1993 ; South African National Defence Force from 27 April 1994: Ribbon - Ciskei Defence Medal

* Official SANDF order of precedence: ** Preceded by the Southern Africa Medal of the

. ** Succeeded by the Defence Medal of the Republic of Ciskei. * Official national order of precedence: ** Preceded by the Southern Africa Medal of the Republic of South Africa. ** Succeeded by the Defence Medal of the Republic of Ciskei.Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005,

Description

; Obverse The General Service Medal is a medallion struck in nickel silver, 3 millimetres thick and 38 millimetres in diameter, depicting the castle emblem of the South African Defence Force, partly surrounded by a wreath of leaves. ; Reverse The reverse has the pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms with the words "GENERAL SERVICE" at left and "ALGEMENE DIENS" at right around the perimeter, with the medal number stamped underneath the Coat of Arms. ; Clasp Only the Maluti Clasp was authorized, struck in bronze with a hole at each end to allow it to be sewn onto the medal ribbon. ; Ribbon The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide, with a 6 millimetres wide dark blue band, a 2 millimetres wide white band and a 7 millimetres wide orange band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 2 millimetres wide dark blue band in the centre. ; Versions The first batch of medals had a rough frosted-like surface, while the later version had a more traditional and more attractive smooth surface.

Mentioned in dispatches

A recipient of the General Service Medal who was

Mentioned in Dispatches To be mentioned in dispatches (or despatches, MiD) describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face ...

during such operational service inside South Africa, was entitled to wear a miniature Coat of Arms on the medal ribbon.

Discontinuation

Conferment of the medal was discontinued in respect of services performed on or after 27 April 2003.

References

{{South African military decorations and medals Military decorations and medals of South Africa Awards established in 1987 1987 establishments in South Africa