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Merit Medal in Bronze

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}

{{Use South African English|date=June 2014}}

{{infobox military award

| name = Merit Medal in Bronze

| image = Merit Medal in Bronze.jpg

| caption =

| presenter = the President

| country = 25px {{flag|South Africa|1994}}

| type = Military decoration for merit

| eligibility = uMkhonto we Sizwe cadres

| awarded_for = Service of a high order

| campaign = The "struggle"

| status = Discontinued in 2003

| description =

| motto =

| clasps =

| post-nominals = MMB

| established = 1996

| firstawarded =

| lastawarded =

| total_awarded =

| total_awarded_posthumously =

| total_recipients =

| precedence_label = MK 1996 & SANDF post-2002 orders of wear

| individual =

| higher = {{plainlist|MK precedence:

}}

{{plainlist|SANDF precedence:

}}

| same =

| lower = {{plainlist|MK succession:

}}

{{plainlist|SANDF succession:

}}

| related =

| image2 = x29px

| caption2 = Ribbon bar

}}

The Merit Medal in Bronze, post-nominal letters MMB, was instituted by the President of the Republic of South Africa in April 1996. It was awarded to veteran cadres of uMkhonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the African National Congress, who had distinguished themselves during the "struggle" by service of a high order.{{cite web |url=http://www.geocities.ws/militaf/lib.htm |website=South African Medal Website |title=Liberation armies |access-date=30 April 2015 |archive-date=5 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505003647/http://www.geocities.ws/militaf/lib.htm |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.geocities.ws/militaf/sapnls.htm#MNO |website=South African Medal Website |title=Post-nominal Letters |access-date=28 April 2015 |archive-date=5 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505003413/http://www.geocities.ws/militaf/sapnls.htm#MNO |url-status=live }}

uMkhonto we Sizwe

uMkhonto we Sizwe, abbreviated as MK, "Spear of the Nation" in Zulu, was the paramilitary wing of the African National Congress (ANC). It was established on 16 December 1961 to wage an armed "struggle" against the Nationalist government inside South Africa. On 27 April 1994, Umkhonto we Sizwe was amalgamated with six other military forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).{{cite web|url=http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/manifesto-mk.html |title=Manifesto of Umkhonto we Sizwe |publisher=African National Congress |date=16 December 1961 |access-date=2006-12-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061217090228/http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/manifesto-mk.html |archive-date=17 December 2006 |url-status=dead }}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.

Institution

The Merit Medal in Bronze, post-nominal letters MMB, was instituted by the President of South Africa in April 1996. It is the junior award of a set of three decorations for merit, along with the Decoration for Merit in Gold and the Merit Medal in Silver.

uMkhonto we Sizwe's military decorations and medals were modelled on those of the South African Defence Force and these three decorations are the approximate equivalents of, respectively, the Southern Cross Decoration and Pro Merito Decoration, the Southern Cross Medal (1975) and Pro Merito Medal (1975), and the Military Merit Medal.

Award criteria

The decoration could be awarded to veteran cadres of uMkhonto we Sizwe who had distinguished themselves during the "struggle" by service of a high order.

Order of wear

{{main|South African military decorations order of wear#Order of wear}}

The position of the Merit Medal in Bronze in the official military and national orders of precedence was revised upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003.Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, {{OCLC|72827981}}Presidential Warrant by the President of the Republic of South Africa for the Institution of Honours for Bravery in the South African National Defence Force, Gazette no. 25213 dated 25 July 2003.

;uMkhonto we Sizwe:

File:Ribbon - Merit Medal in Silver.png File:Ribbon - Merit Medal in Bronze.png File:Ribbon - Operational Medal for Southern Africa.png

;South African National Defence Force until 26 April 2003:

File:Ribbon - Bronze Medal for Merit.png File:Ribbon - Merit Medal in Bronze.png File:Ribbon - Chief C.D.F. Commendation Medal.png

;South African National Defence Force from 27 April 2003:

File:Ribbon - Bronze Medal for Merit.png File:Ribbon - Merit Medal in Bronze.png File:PBlint.gif

Description

;Obverse

The Merit Medal in Bronze was struck in bronze and has an engrailed edge which has nine points, to fit in a circle 38 millimetres in diameter. It depicts the Umkhonto we Sizwe emblem and a protea flower in each of the nine points.{{cite web |url=http://www.army.mil.za/aboutus/uniform/formerforcesmedals/mk.htm |website=Uniform: SA Army: Former Forces Medals |title=uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) |access-date=26 June 2014 |archive-date=16 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130916221511/http://www.army.mil.za/aboutus/uniform/formerforcesmedals/mk.htm |url-status=dead }}

;Ribbon

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and dark blue, with a 12 millimetres wide dark yellow band in the centre.

Discontinuation

Conferment of the Merit Medal in Bronze was discontinued upon the institution of a new set of honours on 27 April 2003.

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{South African military decorations and medals}}

Category:Military decorations and medals of uMkhonto we Sizwe

Category:1996 establishments in South Africa

Category:Awards established in 1996

Category:Awards disestablished in 2003

Category:2003 disestablishments in South Africa