Independence Medal (Transkei) Explained

Independence Medal
Presenter:the State President
Country: Transkei
Type:Military commemorative medal
Eligibility:All ranks
Awarded For:Commemoration of the independence of Transkei
Status:Discontinued in 1976
Established:c. 1976
Precedence Label:TDF pre-1994 & SANDF post-2002 orders of wear
Higher:
Lower:

The Independence Medal was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Transkei to commemorate Independence on 26 October 1976. It was awarded to all ranks on the active strength of the Transkei Defence Force upon independence.[1] [2]

The Transkei Defence Force

The Transkei Defence Force (TDF) was established upon that country's independence on 26 October 1976. The Republic of Transkei ceased to exist on 27 April 1994 and the Transkei Defence Force was amalgamated with six other military forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).[3] [4]

Institution

The Independence Medal was instituted by the State President of Transkei on 26 October 1976, to commemorate the independence of the Republic of Transkei. While the medal is known to have been instituted and awarded, no warrant has yet been traced.[1] [2] [5]

Award criteria

The medal was awarded to all ranks who were on the active strength of the Transkei Defence Force upon independence, including members on detached duty from the South African Defence Force.[1]

Order of wear

Since the Independence Medal was authorised for wear by one of the statutory forces which came to be part of the South African National Defence Force on 27 April 1994, it was accorded a position in the official South African order of precedence on that date.

Transkei Defence Force until 26 April 1994:
South African National Defence Force from 27 April 1994:

The position of the Independence Medal in the order of precedence remained unchanged, as it was on 27 April 1994, when decorations and medals were belatedly instituted in April 1996 for the two former non-statutory forces, the Azanian People's Liberation Army and Umkhonto we Sizwe, and again when a new series of military orders, decorations and medals was instituted in South Africa on 27 April 2003.[6]

Description

ObverseThe Independence Medal is a medallion struck in bronze, 38 millimetres in diameter and 3 millimetres thick at the raised rim, displaying the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Transkei.[7]
ReverseThe reverse is plain with a raised rim and is inscribed "UZIMELE" and "26•10•76" in two lines.
RibbonThe ribbon is 32 millimetres wide, with a 4 millimetres wide brown band and a 4 millimetres wide white band, repeated in reverse order and separated by a 16 millimetres wide green band. Brown, white and green are the colours of the national flag of Transkei.

Discontinuation

Conferment of the Independence Medal was discontinued in 1976.

Notes and References

  1. http://www.geocities.ws/militaf/miltran.htm South African Medals Website - Transkei Defence Force
  2. http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Transkei_Constitution.pdf Republic of Transkei Constitution Act, 1976, Act no. 15 of 1976
  3. (Accessed 1 May 2015)
  4. Warrant of the President of the Republic of South Africa for the Institution of the "UNITAS MEDAL-UNITAS-MEDALJE", Gazette no. 16087 dated 25 November 1994.
  5. http://www.geocities.ws/militaf/legal.htm South African Medals Website - Legal aspects - Fount of Honour
  6. Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005,
  7. http://www.army.mil.za/aboutus/uniform/formerforcesmedals/transkei.htm Uniform: SA Army: Former Forces Medals - Transkei Defence Force (TDF)

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