Efficiency Medal (South Africa)

Award

Efficiency Medal (South Africa)

King George VI version

Type| Military long service medal
Awarded for| Twelve years of efficient service
Country|  Union of South Africa
Presented by| the Monarch of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India
Eligibility| Part-time other ranks and some officers
Clasps| For further periods of 6 years service
Status| Discontinued in 1952
Established| 1930
Final award| 1952

Ribbon Bar

South African order of wear
Next (higher)|  Efficiency Decoration (South Africa)
Equivalent|  Efficiency Medal
Efficiency Medal (New Zealand)
Next (lower)|  Special Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal

The Efficiency Medal (South Africa) was instituted in 1930 for award to part-time warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men after twelve years of efficient service on the active list of the Citizen Force of the Union of South Africa. At the same time, a clasp was instituted for award to holders of the medal upon completion of further periods of six years of efficient service. The medal superseded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal.[1][2]

The Efficiency Medal (South Africa) was superseded by the John Chard Medal in 1952.[2][3][4]

## Origin

[edit]

In 1896, the Volunteer Long Service Medal for India and the Colonies was instituted by Queen Victoria. It was superseded by the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal in 1899.[5][6]

## Institution

[edit]

The Efficiency Medal (South Africa) was instituted by Royal Warrant on 23 September 1930, as a long service award for part-time warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the Citizen Force of the Union Defence Forces. At the same time, a clasp was instituted, for award to recipients of the medal upon completion of further periods of efficient service.[1][3][7]

The medal bears a subsidiary title to denote that the recipient qualified for its award while serving in the Citizen Force in South Africa. The subsidiary title, in English and Afrikaans, is inscribed on a scroll bar attached to the medal suspender.[1][8]

The similar award for officers was the Efficiency Decoration (South Africa).[2]

## Award criteria

[edit]

The medal could be awarded to part-time warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men after twelve years of continuous efficient service as a volunteer on the active list of the Citizen Force. Service in West Africa, natives of West Africa and periods spent on leave excluded, and war service were reckoned two-fold as qualifying service for the medal. Service during the period from 3 September 1939 to 1 March 1950 inclusive need not have been continuous, while breaks in service under certain specified conditions, though not counting as qualifying service, were not considered as a break in the twelve years of continuous qualifying service for the medal.[1][2][7][9]

Clasps could initially be awarded to holders of the medal upon completion of eighteen and twenty-four reckoned years of efficient service. This was amended on 26 August 1944 to authorise the award of additional clasps for each additional completed period of six years of efficient service after twenty-four years. When medals are not worn, recipients of clasps would wear a silver rosette on the ribbon bar to donate each clasp.[1][10]

A further amendment, on 10 May 1946, made part-time officers who served during the Second World War also eligible for the award of the medal and clasp, provided they were serving on the active list of the Citizen Force on 2 September 1939 and were embodied or called up for war service. The reason for this amendment originated from the anomaly that, during the war, a large number of officers were commissioned from the ranks, and merely by the fact that they were so promoted owing to their efficiency, would be denied the right to the Efficiency Medal. Such officers were allowed to reckon their service as officers as qualifying service for the medal and clasps. Officers who had already qualified for the award of the Efficiency Decoration before that date were, however, not eligible.[10][11]

The medal was initially only awarded to Citizen Force members of the South African Army and South African Air Force. On 1 August 1942, when the South African Navy was established by the consolidation of the Seaward Defence Force and the South African Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve into the South African Naval Forces, eligibility for the award of the medal was extended to South African Naval Citizen Force members.[2][12]

## Order of wear

[edit]

In the order of wear prescribed by the British Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, the Efficiency Medal (South Africa) ranks on par with the British Efficiency Medal and takes precedence after the Territorial Efficiency Medal and before the Special Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.[13]

### South Africa

[edit]

Main article: South African military decorations order of wear § Order of wear

With effect from 6 April 1952, when a new South African set of decorations and medals was instituted to replace the British awards used to date, the older British decorations and medals which were applicable to South Africa continued to be worn in the same order of precedence but, with the exception of the Victoria Cross, took precedence after all South African decorations and medals awarded to South Africans on or after that date. Of the official British medals which were applicable to South Africans, the Efficiency Medal (South Africa) takes precedence as shown.[4][13][14]

* Preceded by the Efficiency Decoration (South Africa) (ED).
* Succeeded by the Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (VRD).

## Description

[edit]

The medal was struck in silver and is oval, 39 millimetres (1.54 inches) high and 32 millimetres (1.26 inches) wide. The fixed suspender bar, a pair of laurel leaves, is affixed to the medal by means of a single-toe claw and a horizontal pin through the upper edge of the medal. The suspender is decorated on the obverse with a scroll-pattern bar, inscribed with the name of the country. The name of the recipient was impressed on the rim of the medal.[1][8]

Obverse

Three versions of the medal were produced for South Africa, but only the first two were awarded. The obverse has a raised rim on all three versions and bears the crowned effigy of the reigning monarch.[8][15]

* The original version has the effigy of King George V in coronation robes and wearing the Tudor Crown. It is circumscribed "GEORGIVS•V•D•G•BRITT•OMN REX•ET•INDIÆ•IMP•". The initials "BM" at the bottom of the effigy are those of the designer of the obverse, Sir Bertram Mackennal KCVO, an Australian sculptor.[8][15][16]
* The King George VI version was introduced after his succession to the throne in 1936 and has his effigy in coronation robes and wearing the Tudor Crown, facing left and circumscribed "GEORGIVS•VI•D•G•BR•OMN•REX•ET•INDIÆ•IMP•". It is identical to the first King George VI obverse design of the British Efficiency Medal. The initials "PM" below the effigy are those of the designer of the obverse, sculptor Percy Metcalfe CVO RDI.[2][8][15][17]

Queen Elizabeth II version

* The Queen Elizabeth II version was introduced after her succession to the throne in 1952 and has her effigy, facing right and wearing the Tudor Crown. It is circumscribed "ELIZABETH II D: G: BR: OMN: REGINA F: D:" reading around from the top. It is identical to the first Queen Elizabeth II obverse design of the British Efficiency Medal.[8][15]

Scroll bar

Approved by a Royal Warrant dated 29 December 1939, the scroll bar inscription on the King George VI version of the medal was in English and Afrikaans, "UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA" and "UNIE VAN SUID-AFRIKA" in two lines. The scroll bar on the Queen Elizabeth II version was English only, but this medal was never awarded since it was superseded within a few months of the Queen's succession to the throne.[2][3][4][7][15]

Reverse

The reverse is smooth with a raised rim and bears the inscription "FOR EFFICIENT SERVICE" in three lines. On the bilingual King George VI version, the Afrikaans and English inscriptions are "VIR BEKWAME DIENS" and "FOR EFFICIENT SERVICE", each language in three lines and the languages separated by a 13 millimetres long line.[1][2][3][8][15]

Clasp

The clasp, struck in silver, is decorated with an embossed Tudor Crown and was designed to be sewn onto the medal ribbon.[1][15]

Ribbon

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and dark green, edged with 3 millimetres wide lime yellow bands.[7][8]

## Discontinuation

[edit]

On 6 April 1952, the Efficiency Medal was superseded by the John Chard Medal, which could be awarded to all ranks after twelve years of continuous efficient service in the Citizen Force.[2][3][4]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h "No. 33653". The London Gazette. 17 October 1930. p. 6311.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Alexander, EGM; Barron, GKB; Bateman, AJ (1986). South African Orders, Decorations and Medals. Cape Town: Human and Rousseau Publishers. p. 160\. ISBN 0-7981-1895-4.
3. ^ a b c d e South African Medal Website - Union Defence Forces (1939-52) (Accessed 3 May 2015)
4. ^ a b c d Government Notice no. 1982 of 1 October 1954 - Order of Precedence of Orders, Decorations and Medals, published in the Government Gazette of 1 October 1954.
5. ^ Mayo, John Horsley (1897). Medals and Decorations of the British Army and Navy, Vol. II, 1897 (No. 225. Volunteer Long Service Medal for Indian and Colonial Forces, 1896.). London: A. Constable. p. 499.
6. ^ "No. 27085". The London Gazette. 2 June 1899. p. 3517.
7. ^ a b c d Fforde, JPI; Monick, S (1986). A Guide to South African Orders, Decorations and Medals and their Ribbons 1896–1985. Johannesburg. p. 40.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
8. ^ a b c d e f g h Mackay, J., Mussell, J.W., Editorial Team of Medal News, (2005), The Medal Yearbook, page 228, (Token Publishing Limited)
9. ^ New Zealand Defence Force - The Efficiency Medal Regulations (Accessed 16 July 2015)
10. ^ a b New Zealand Defence Force - Royal Warrants for the Efficiency Medal (Accessed 16 July 2015)
11. ^ Hansard - HL Deb 15 November 1945 vol 137 cc994-9 - Lord Croft on the Territorial Efficiency Medal (Accessed 19 July 2015)
12. ^ "History of the SA Navy". Navy.mil.za. Archived from the original on 23 February 2008. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
13. ^ a b "No. 56878". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 March 2003. p. 3353.
14. ^ Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, OCLC 72827981
15. ^ a b c d e f g North East Medals - Efficiency Medal (Accessed 17 July 2015)
16. ^ Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 10, (MUP), 1986 – Mackennal, Sir Edgar Bertram (1863–1931), article by Noel S. Hutchison (Accessed 14 June 2015)
17. ^ World of Coins - Percy Metcalfe, Coin Designer (Accessed 17 July 2015)

* v
* t
* e

South African military decorations and medals

Sorted in order of wear per era or 1994 constituent force

Pre-Union
until 6 April 1952|

* Victoria Cross
* Dekoratie voor Trouwe Dienst
* Distinguished Service Order
* Distinguished Service Cross
* Military Cross
* Distinguished Flying Cross
* Air Force Cross
* Distinguished Conduct Medal
* Distinguished Conduct Medal (Natal)
* Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
* Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (Flying)
* Distinguished Service Medal
* Military Medal
* Distinguished Flying Medal
* Air Force Medal
* British Empire Medal (Military)
* South Africa Medal (1853)
* South Africa Medal (1880)
* Cape of Good Hope General Service Medal
* Queen's South Africa Medal
* Medalje voor de Anglo-Boere Oorlog
* Lint voor Verwonding
* King's South Africa Medal
* Natal Native Rebellion Medal
* 1914–15 Star
* British War Medal
* Victory Medal (South Africa)
* Mercantile Marine War Medal
* 1939–1945 Star
* Atlantic Star
* Arctic Star
* Air Crew Europe Star
* Africa Star
* Pacific Star
* Burma Star
* Italy Star
* France and Germany Star
* Defence Medal
* War Medal
* Africa Service Medal
* King George V Coronation Medal
* King George V Silver Jubilee Medal
* King George VI Coronation Medal
* Meritorious Service Medal (United Kingdom)
* Meritorious Service Medal (Cape of Good Hope)
* Meritorious Service Medal (Natal)
* Meritorious Service Medal (South Africa)
* Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Cape of Good Hope)
* Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Natal)
* Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Medal
* Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (South Africa)
* Volunteer Officers' Decoration for India and the Colonies
* Volunteer Long Service Medal for India and the Colonies
* Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration
* Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal
* Efficiency Decoration (South Africa)
* Efficiency Medal (South Africa)
* Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
* Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
* Air Efficiency Award
* King's Medal for Champion Shots in the Military Forces
* Union of South Africa Commemoration Medal
* South African Medal for War Services
* Sir Harry Smith's Medal for Gallantry (Unofficial)
* Johannesburg Vrijwilliger Corps Medal (Unofficial)
* Kimberley Star (Unofficial)
* Cape Copper Company Medal for the Defence of O'okiep (Unofficial)

1952–1994|

* Honoris Crux Gold
* Star of South Africa, Gold
* Star of South Africa, Silver
* Star of South Africa (1952)
* Louw Wepener Decoration
* Honoris Crux (1952)
* Honoris Crux Silver
* Van Riebeeck Decoration
* Honoris Crux (1975)
* Pro Virtute Decoration
* Southern Cross Decoration
* Pro Merito Decoration
* Van Riebeeck Medal
* Louw Wepener Medal
* Ad Astra Decoration
* Army Cross
* Air Force Cross
* Navy Cross
* Medical Service Cross
* Southern Cross Medal (1952)
* Pro Merito Medal (1967)
* Southern Cross Medal (1975)
* Pro Merito Medal (1975)
* Danie Theron Medal
* Jack Hindon Medal
* Military Merit Medal
* Korea Medal
* Pro Patria Medal
* Southern Africa Medal
* General Service Medal (South Africa)
* Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
* Medal for Distinguished Conduct and Loyal Service
* Good Service Medal, Gold
* John Chard Decoration
* De Wet Decoration
* Cadet Corps Medal
* Good Service Medal, Silver
* Union Medal
* Permanent Force Good Service Medal
* John Chard Medal
* Good Service Medal, Bronze
* De Wet Medal
* Queen's Medal for Champion Shots in the Military Forces
* Commandant General's Medal
* SADF Champion Shot Medal
* National Cadet Bisley Grand Champion Medal

Transkei|

* Cross for Bravery
* Transkei Defence Force Medal
* Independence Medal (Transkei)
* Military Rule Medal
* Faithful Service Medal

Bophuthatswana|

* Order of the Leopard, Commander
* Distinguished Gallantry Cross
* Defence Force Merit Decoration
* Distinguished Gallantry Medal
* Defence Force Merit Medal
* Marumo Medal, Class I
* Defence Force Commendation Medal
* Marumo Medal, Class II
* Nkwe Medal
* General Service Medal
* Independence Medal
* Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Gold
* Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Silver
* Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Bronze
* State President's Medal for Shooting

Venda|

* Gallantry Cross, Gold
* Gallantry Cross, Silver
* Distinguished Service Medal, Gold
* Distinguished Service Medal, Silver
* Venda Defence Force Medal
* General Service Medal (Venda)
* Independence Medal (Venda)
* Long Service Medal, Gold
* Long Service Medal, Silver
* Long Service Medal, Bronze

Ciskei|

* Sandile Decoration
* Sandile Medal
* Chief C.D.F. Commendation Medal
* Ciskei Defence Medal
* Independence Medal (Ciskei)
* Medal for Long Service, Bronze
* President's Medal for Shooting

Umkhonto
we Sizwe|

* Star for Bravery in Gold
* Star for Bravery in Silver
* Conspicuous Leadership Star
* Decoration for Merit in Gold
* Merit Medal in Silver
* Merit Medal in Bronze
* Operational Medal for Southern Africa
* South Africa Service Medal
* Service Medal in Gold
* Service Medal in Silver
* Service Medal in Bronze

Azanian People's
Liberation Army|

* Gold Star for Bravery
* Bravery Star in Silver
* Star for Conspicuous Leadership
* Gold Decoration for Merit
* Silver Medal for Merit
* Bronze Medal for Merit
* Operational Medal for Southern Africa
* South Africa Service Medal
* Gold Service Medal
* Silver Service Medal
* Bronze Service Medal

From 1994|

* Nkwe ya Gauta
* Nkwe ya Selefera
* iPhrothiya yeGolide
* Nkwe ya Boronse
* iPhrothiya yeSiliva
* iPhrothiya yeBhronzi
* Tshumelo Ikatelaho
* Unitas Medal
* Closure Commemoration Medal
* Medalje vir Troue Diens

* v
* t
* e

Long and Meritorious Service Medals of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth of Nations

Regular military
meritorious
and long
service medals|

* Meritorious Service Medal
* Meritorious Service Medal (Australia)
* Meritorious Service Medal (Cape of Good Hope)
* Meritorious Service Medal (Natal)
* Meritorious Service Medal (New Zealand)
* Meritorious Service Medal (South Africa)
* Accumulated Campaign Service Medal
* Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
* Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Cape of Good Hope)
* Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (Natal)
* Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas Medal
* Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (Military)
* Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (South Africa)
* Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (1830)
* Naval Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (1848)
* Indian Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (for Europeans of Indian Army)
* Indian Meritorious Service Medal (for Europeans of Indian Army)
* Royal Air Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
* Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (Ulster Defence Regiment)
* Indian Long Service and Good Conduct Medal (for Indian Army)
* Royal West African Frontier Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
* King's African Rifles Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
* Royal Sierra Leone Military Forces Long Service and Good Conduct Medal‎
* Trans-Jordan Frontier Force Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
* Indian Meritorious Service Medal (for Indian Army)

Civilian long
service medals|

* Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
* Fire and Rescue Service Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
* African Police Medal for Meritorious Service
* Royal Canadian Mounted Police Long Service Medal
* Ceylon Police Long Service Medal
* Ceylon Fire Services Long Service Medal
* Sierra Leone Police Long Service Medal
* Colonial Police Long Service Medal
* Sierra Leone Fire Brigades Long Service Medal
* Mauritius Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
* Mauritius Fire Services Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
* Mauritius Prisons Service Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
* Colonial Fire Brigades Long Service Medal
* Colonial Prison Service Medal
* Hong Kong Disciplined Services Medal
* Ambulance Service (Emergency Duties) Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
* Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service Medal
* Prison Services (Operational Duties) Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
* Royal Ulster Constabulary Service Medal
* Northern Ireland Prison Service Medal
* National Crime Agency Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
* Police Service of Northern Ireland Service Medal
* Border Force and Immigration Enforcement Long Service and Good Conduct Medal

Volunteer
and part-time
long service
decorations
and medals|

* Emergency Reserve Decoration
* Volunteer Officers' Decoration
* Volunteer Long Service Medal
* Volunteer Officers' Decoration for India and the Colonies
* Volunteer Long Service Medal for India and the Colonies
* Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers' Decoration
* Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal
* Militia Long Service Medal
* Imperial Yeomanry Long Service Medal
* Special Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
* Territorial Decoration
* Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal
* Efficiency Decoration
* Territorial Force Efficiency Medal
* Territorial Efficiency Medal
* Efficiency Medal
* Army Emergency Reserve Efficiency Medal
* Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Reserve
* Decoration for Officers of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve
* Royal Naval Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
* Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
* Royal Naval Auxiliary Sick Berth Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
* Royal Fleet Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
* Royal Naval Wireless Auxiliary Reserve Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
* Royal Naval Auxiliary Service Long Service Medal
* Air Efficiency Award
* Volunteer Reserves Service Medal
* Ulster Defence Regiment Medal
* Northern Ireland Home Service Medal
* Cadet Forces Medal
* H.M. Coastguard Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
* Special Constabulary Long Service Medal
* Royal Observer Corps Medal
* Civil Defence Long Service Medal
* Jersey Honorary Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
* Service Medal of the Order of St John
* Voluntary Medical Service Medal
* Women's Royal Voluntary Service Medal
* South African Medal for War Services
* Colonial Special Constabulary Medal

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template