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Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Silver
Type	Civil decoration for bravery
Awarded for	Acts of conspicuous bravery
Country	UK South Africa
Presented by	the Monarch of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India
Eligibility	South African citizens
Status	Discontinued in 1952
Established	1939
Total	34
Ribbon bar
British & South African orders of wear
Next (higher)	UK precedence: Indian Distinguished Service Medal, Silver SA precedence: Louw Wepener Decoration
Equivalent	Union of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery, Silver Woltemade Decoration for Bravery, Silver
Next (lower)	UK succession: Distinguished Service Medal SA succession: South African Police Cross for Bravery

The Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Silver is the lesser of two classes of a South African civil decoration for acts of bravery that was in use from 1939 to 1952, when the country was a constitutional monarchy in the British Commonwealth. The medal was instituted by King George VI on 23 June 1939.

Institution

The Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Silver, the lesser 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.

Award criteria

The medal was awarded to recognise gallantry performed in the face of imminent and obvious peril by those residents of the Union of South Africa or its dependent territories who endangered their own lives in the act of saving, or endeavouring to save, the lives of others.

Although it was primarily a civilian award, it was also granted to military personnel for non-combatant acts of gallantry during the Second World War.

Order of wear

In the British order of precedence, the Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Silver ranks as a third level decoration, equivalent to the Queen's Gallantry Medal. It is preceded by the Indian Distinguished Service Medal and succeeded by the Distinguished Service Medal.

In South Africa, the medal is ranked as a second level decoration and, despite its status, it has no post-nominal letters. It is preceded by the Louw Wepener Decoration and succeeded by the South African Police Cross for Bravery.

Description

Obverse

The decoration is struck in silver and is a disk, 38 millimetres in diameter with a raised rim and a large ring suspender. The obverse depicts the crowned effigy of King George VI, facing left, surrounded by the words "GEORGIVS VI REX ET IMPERATOR".

Reverse

A public competition was held to find a suitable design for the reverse of the medal. The winning entry, by Miss Renee Joubert, depicts the 18th-century Cape hero Wolraad Woltemade on his horse, rescuing shipwreck survivors from a stormy sea. As a result, the medal became commonly referred to as the Woltemade Medal. The image is circumscribed with the words "FOR BRAVERY • VIR DAPPERHEID" around the top.

Ribbon

The ribbon is 44 millimetres wide and dark blue with 4½ millimetres wide orange edges.

Discontinuation

Upon the accession to the British Throne of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952, the Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Silver was discontinued and replaced by the Union of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery, Silver.

Recipients

The Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Silver was awarded to altogether thirty-four individuals, of whom eighteen were military personnel.

References

1. ^ Monick, S (1990). South African Civil Awards. South African National Museum of Military History. pp. 89–93.
2. ^ South African Medal Website - Union of South Africa (Accessed 1 May 2015)
3. ^ Abbott, P.E. and Tamplin, J.M.A. (1971). British Gallantry Awards. Guinness Superlatives.
4. "No. 56878". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 March 2003. p. 3351.
5. Government Gazette of the Republic of South Africa No 27376 (11 March 2005)

v t e Orders, decorations, and medals of South Africa
Current national orders (2002-)	Mapungubwe Baobab Companions of OR Tambo Luthuli Ikhamanga Mendi
Historical decorations (1986-2002)	Southern Cross Star of South Africa Meritorious Service Good Hope Woltemade Cross for Bravery, Gold Woltemade Cross for Bravery, Silver
Historical decorations (until 1986)	Star of South Africa Good Hope Decoration for Meritorious Service Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Gold Union of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery, Gold Woltemade Decoration for Bravery, Gold Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Silver Union of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery, Silver Woltemade Decoration for Bravery, Silver

• Civil awards and decorations of South Africa
• Civil awards and decorations of the United Kingdom
• Awards established in 1939
• 1939 establishments in South Africa