Long Service Medal, Gold

Award

Long Service Medal, Gold

Type| Military long service medal
Awarded for| Thirty years exemplary service
Country|  Venda
Presented by| the President
Eligibility| All Ranks
Status| Discontinued in 1994
Established| 1985

Ribbon bar

VDF pre-1994 & SANDF post-2002 orders of wear
Next (higher)|

VDF precedence:

* Independence Medal

SANDF precedence:

* Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Gold

Next (lower)|

VDF succession:

* Long Service Medal, Silver

SANDF succession:

* Gold Service Medal

The Long Service Medal, Gold was instituted by the President of the Republic of Venda in 1985, for award to all ranks for thirty years exemplary service.[1][2]

## The Venda Defence Force

[edit]

The 900 member Venda Defence Force (VDF) was established upon that country's independence on 13 September 1979. The Republic of Venda ceased to exist on 27 April 1994 and the Venda Defence Force was amalgamated with six other military forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).[3][4][5]

## Institution

[edit]

The Long Service Medal, Gold was instituted by the President of Venda in 1985. It is the senior award of a set of three medals for long service, along with the Long Service Medal, Silver and the Long Service Medal, Bronze.[1][2][6]

Venda's military decorations and medals were modelled on those of the Republic of South Africa and these three medals are the approximate equivalents of, respectively, the Good Service Medal, Gold, the Good Service Medal, Silver and the Good Service Medal, Bronze.[1]

## Award criteria

[edit]

The medal could be awarded to all ranks for thirty years of exemplary service.[1]

## Order of wear

[edit]

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

Since the Long Service Medal, Gold 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. The position of the Long Service Medal, Gold in the official order of precedence was revised twice after 1994, to accommodate the inclusion or institution of new decorations and medals, first 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 again upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003.[1]

Venda Defence Force until 26 April 1994

* Official VDF order of precedence:
* Preceded by the Independence Medal.
* Succeeded by the Long Service Medal, Silver.[1]
* Venda official national order of precedence:
* Preceded by the National Force Long Service Medal, 30 Years.
* Succeeded by the Police Star for Merit.[1]

South African National Defence Force from 27 April 1994

* Official SANDF order of precedence:
* Preceded by the Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Gold of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.
* Succeeded by the John Chard Decoration (JCD) of the Republic of South Africa.[1]
* Official national order of precedence:
* Preceded by the Medal for Faithful Service in the Prisons Service, Gold of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.
* Succeeded by the Police Star for Merit of the Republic of Venda.[1]

South African National Defence Force from April 1996

* Official SANDF order of precedence:
* Preceded by the Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct, Gold of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.
* Succeeded by the Gold Service Medal of the Azanian People's Liberation Army.[1]
* Official national order of precedence:
* Preceded by the Medal for Faithful Service in the Prisons Service, Gold of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.
* Succeeded by the Police Star for Merit of the Republic of Venda.[1]

The position of the Long Service Medal, Gold remained unchanged, as it was in April 1996, when a new set of honours was instituted on 27 April 2003.[1]

## Description

[edit]

Miniature medal

Obverse

The Long Service Medal, Gold is silver-gilt medallion, 38 millimetres in diameter, depicting the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Venda.[7][8]

The suspender is in the form of a pair of crossed elephant tusks and is different on the full size and miniature medals. On the full-size medal, depicted at the top, the ends of the tusks reach to approximately the ten-thirty and one-thirty clock positions on the medallion, while on the miniature medal, as depicted alongside, they reach to approximately the nine-thirty and two-thirty clock positions on the medallion.[9]

Reverse

The reverse is inscribed "MENDELE WA TSHUMELO YA TSHIFHINGA TSHILAPFU MIINWAHA YA FURARU", the number of years service.[2][8]

Ribbon

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide, with a 4 millimetres wide blue band and an 8 millimetres wide green band, repeated in reverse order and separated by an 8 millimetres wide yellow band.[2][7][8]

## Discontinuation

[edit]

Conferment of the Long Service Medal, Gold was discontinued when the Republic of Venda ceased to exist on 27 April 1994.[5]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, OCLC 72827981
2. ^ a b c d South African Medal Website - Venda Defence Force (Accessed 30 April 2015)
3. ^ South Africa Homeland Militaries, May 1996 (Accessed 1 May 2015)
4. ^ Peled, Alon (1998), A Question of Loyalty: Military Manpower Policy in Multiethnic States, Cornell Studies in Security Affairs, Ithaca: Cornell University Press, pp. 50f, ISBN 0-8014-3239-1
5. ^ a b 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.
6. ^ South African Medal Website - Legal aspects - Fount of Honour (Accessed 1 May 2015)
7. ^ a b Uniform: SA Army: Former Forces Medals - Venda Defence Force (BDF)
8. ^ a b c Venda Long Service Medal Gold Full size
9. ^ Venda Defence Medal for Long Service Full size Minature [sic]

* 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

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