The Army Cross, post-nominal letters CM (Crux Militaria), is a military decoration which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1987. It was awarded to members of the South African Army for bravery. The Army Cross was discontinued in 2003, but backdated awards can still be made for acts of bravery during this period.South African Medal Website - Post-nominal Letters (Accessed 28 April 2015)
The South African military The Union Defence Forces (UDF) were established in 1912 and renamed the South African Defence Force (SADF) in 1958. On 27 April 1994 it was integrated with six other independent forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).South African Medal Website - SA Defence Force : 1952-1975 (Accessed 30 April 2015)South African Medal Website - SA Defence Force : 1975-2003 (Accessed 30 April 2015)Suid-Afrikaanse militêre dekorasies: 1952-1975Suid-Afrikaanse militêre dekorasies: 1975-2003Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 457, no. 25213, Pretoria, 25 July 2003
Institution The Army Cross, post-nominal letters CM (Crux Militaria), was instituted by the State President in 1987.South African Medal Website - Legal aspects - Fount of Honour (Accessed 1 May 2015)
Award criteria The cross was initially awarded for exceptional ingenuity, resourcefulness and skill, and extraordinary leadership, dedication, sense of duty and personal example and courage in mortal danger in non-combatant situations. After 1993, it was awarded for exceptional courage, leadership, skill, ingenuity or tenacity in dangerous or critical situations. A Bar, instituted in 1993, could be awarded in recognition of further similar displays of courage, leadership, skill, ingenuity or tenacity in danger.
It was first awarded in 1992, to Corporal D.H. Maritz and Private H.B. Smit, who recovered a disabled tank during a battle in Angola.
Order of wear
The position of the Army Cross in the official order of precedence was revised three times, to accommodate the institution or addition of new decorations and medals, first upon the integration into the South African National Defence Force on 27 April 1994, again 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 decorations and medals was instituted in South Africa on 27 April 2003, but it remained unchanged on all three occasions.Republic of South Africa Government Gazette no. 15093, Pretoria, 3 September 1993Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005,
Official SANDF order of precedence Preceded by the Ad Astra Decoration (AAD). Succeeded by the Air Force Cross (CA).
Official national order of precedence Preceded by the Ad Astra Decoration (AAD). Succeeded by the Air Force Cross (CA).
Description Obverse The Army Cross is a pointed cross, struck in silver, to fit in a circle 45 millimetres in diameter, with the South African Army springbok emblem in the centre on a red roundel, 18 millimetres in diameter.
Reverse The reverse has the pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms, with the decoration number impressed underneath.
Bar The Bar was struck in silver and has an emblem, depicting a Protea, embossed in the centre. The same bar was used to indicate multiple awards of the Pro Virtute Medal, Army Cross, Air Force Cross, Navy Cross, Medical Service Cross, Southern Cross Medal (1975) and Pro Merito Medal (1975).
Ribbon The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and white, with a 12 millimetres wide Army orange centre band.
Discontinuation Conferment of the decoration was discontinued in respect of services performed on or after 27 April 2003.
Recipients Since inclusion in the table itself is impractical, the actions cited for follow below the table. The list of recipients is not complete.
CM no. Name Rank Unit Date of actionMaritz, D.H. CplSmit, H.B. PteBerkenshaw, Clive WOCape Town Highlanders1990 20de Cruz, Charles WOCape Town Highlanders1990Blake, Sean GnrCape Town Highlanders1990Carstensen, Riaan GnrCape Town Highlanders1990Evert, Pieter GnrCape Town Highlanders1990Fourie, Theunis LtStellenbosch University Military Unitvan Noordwyk, W.Lt Col2003
Actions cited for
References