| Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Gold | |
| Presenter: | the Monarch of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India |
| Country: |  South Africa |
| Type: | Civil decoration for bravery |
| Eligibility: | South African citizens |
| Awarded For: | Acts of conspicuous bravery |
| Status: | Discontinued in 1952 |
| Established: | 1939 |
| Total Awarded: | 1 |
| Precedence Label: | British & South African orders of wear |
| Higher: | |
| Same: | Union of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery, Gold Woltemade Decoration for Bravery, Gold |
| Lower: | |
The Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Gold was the highest South African civilian decoration during the period between 1910 and 1961, when the country was a constitutional monarchy in the British Commonwealth. The medal was instituted by King George VI on 23 June 1939.[1]
The (Union of South Africa) King's Medal for Bravery, Gold, the senior of two classes of South Africa's highest civilian decoration for bravery, was instituted by Royal Warrant of 23 June 1939, published in Government Gazette no. 2671 dated 25 August 1939, and amended by Royal Warrants of 18 February 1947, 24 October 1949 and 17 October 1950.[1]
The decoration filled the gap left by the withdrawal of British awards such as the Albert Medal and the Edward Medal, which had ceased to be available to South Africans in 1934. It predated the institution of the George Cross and George Medal in 1940, for which South Africans were eligible.
The medal was awarded to recognise great and exceptional gallantry performed in the face of imminent and obvious peril by residents of the Union of South Africa or its dependent territories who endangered their lives in the act of saving, or endeavouring to save, the lives of others.[1] [2]
In the British order of precedence, the Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Gold ranks as a second level decoration, equivalent to the George Medal. It is preceded by the Venerable Order of Saint John and succeeded by the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
In South Africa, the medal is ranked as a first level decoration but, despite its status, it has no post-nominal letters. It is preceded by the Honoris Crux Gold and succeeded by the Woltemade Cross for Bravery, Gold.[3]
Upon the accession to the British Throne of Queen Elizabeth II on 15 December 1952, the Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Gold was discontinued and replaced by the Union of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery, Gold.[1] [2]
The Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Gold was awarded only once, on 8 September 1944 to Luis Freixial. Luis was fourteen years old on 6 January 1943 when he rescued the two-year-old Cody Law from a 40 feet deep well with deep water into which he had fallen at Parys in the Orange Free State.[1] [2]
