Summary
The Navy Cross (Vlootkruis in Afrikaans), post-nominal letters CN (Crux Navalis) is a military decoration which was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1987. It was awarded to members of the South African Navy for bravery. It was discontinued in 2003, but backdated awards can still be made for acts of bravery during this period.[1]
| Navy Cross | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Military decoration for bravery |
| Awarded for | Exceptional courage, leadership, or skill in dangerous or critical situations |
| Country |   South Africa |
| Presented by | the State President and, from 1994, the President |
| Eligibility | South African Navy members |
| Post-nominals | CN |
| Status | Discontinued in 2003 |
| Established | 1987 |
| First awarded | 1991 |
 Ribbon bar | |
| SADF pre-1994 & SANDF post-2002 orders of wear | |
| Next (higher) | SADF precedence:
SANDF precedence:
|
| Next (lower) | SADF succession:
SANDF succession:
|
The first award was made by the then Chief of the Navy Vice Admiral Robert Simpson-Anderson on 15 August 1994.[2]
The South African military edit
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).[3][4][5]
Institution edit
The Navy Cross, post-nominal letters CN (Crux Navalis), was instituted by the State President in 1987.[3][6]
Award criteria edit
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.[5]
Order of wear edit
The position of the Navy Cross in the official order of precedence was revised three times, to accommodate the inclusion or institution 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.[7][8]
- Official SANDF order of precedence
- Preceded by the Air Force Cross (CA) of the Republic of South Africa.
- Succeeded by the Medical Service Cross (CC) of the Republic of South Africa.[7][8]
- Official national order of precedence
- Preceded by the Air Force Cross (CA) of the Republic of South Africa.
- Succeeded by the Medical Service Cross (CC) of the Republic of South Africa.[7][8]
Description edit
- Obverse
The Navy Cross is a pointed cross, struck in silver, to fit in a circle 45 millimetres in diameter, with the South African Navy emblem in the centre on a navy blue roundel, 18 millimetres in diameter.[5]
- Reverse
The reverse has the pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms, with the decoration number impressed underneath.[5]
- Bar
The Bar was struck in silver and has a Protea emblem 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).[9]
- Ribbon
The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and white, with a 12 millimetres wide Navy blue centre band.[5]
Discontinuation edit
Conferment of the decoration was discontinued in respect of services performed on or after 27 April 2003.[4]
Recipients edit
Since inclusion in the table itself is impractical, the actions cited for follow below the table. The Ranks reflected are the final rank held by the recipient.
| CN no. | Name | Rank | Unit | Date awarded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnard, LJ[2] | WO2 | 22 Apr 1994 | ||
| Doult, A[2] | LS | 22 Apr 1994 | ||
| Minnaar, S[a][2] | LT CDR | 18 Jun 1996 | ||
| Wooding, L[2] | S LT | 18 Jun 1996 | ||
| Tancrel, CD[2] | WO1 | 18 Jun 1996 | ||
| Norman, DJH[2] | CDR | 20 Sep 2000 | ||
| Motsoenyane, F[2] | PO | 20 Sep 2000 | ||
| Swart, WP[2] | LS | 20 Sep 2000 | ||
| Palmer, JR[2] | LT CDR | 29 Sep 2000 | ||
| Stephenson, JD[2] | WO2 | 29 Sep 2000 | ||
| Hicks, NM[2] | CPO | 29 Sep 2000 | ||
| Jacobs, PL[2] | CPO | 29 Sep 2000 | ||
| Marnitz, RB[2] | CPO | 29 Sep 2000 | ||
| Nel, MFJ[2] | CPO | 29 Sep 2000 | ||
| Zarry, WS[2] | CPO | 29 Sep 2000 | ||
| Buys, AC[2] | LS | 29 Sep 2000 | ||
| Ferguson, SC[2] | LS | 29 Sep 2000 | ||
| Price, L[2] | LS | 29 Sep 2000 | ||
| Henderson, RW[2] | Cdr | OC Diving School | 26 Oct 2001 | |
| Uys, JCI[2] | S LT | 26 Oct 2001 | ||
| Engelbrecht, JH[2] | WO1 | 26 Oct 2001 | ||
| Smith, NC[2] | CPO | Diving School | 26 Oct 2001 | |
| Schoultz, CF[2] | LS | 31 Dec 2001 | ||
| Van wyk, H[2] | LS | 31 Dec 2001 | ||
| 0013 | Schoeman, MF[b][2] | LT CDR | SAS Galeshewe | 12 Jun 2003 |
| Stander, A[2] | WO1 | 13 Apr 2004 | ||
| Prinsloo, A[2] | WO2 | 13 Apr 2004 | ||
| Jaffar, MN[2] | CPO | 11 Aug 2004 | ||
| Pronk, TP[2] | CPO | 8 Jul 2006 | ||
| Mahlwele, MD[2] | PO | 8 Jul 2006 | ||
| Hughes, RP[2] | WO2 | 16 Feb 2007 | ||
| Combrink, WW [c] | Cdr | 27 Dec 2007 | ||
| Lewis, GSM[d][2] | WO2 | SAS Protea | 27 Dec 2007 | |
| - | Frieslaar, J.M[e] | CPO | 27 Dec 2007 | |
| Williams, DC[e][2] | CPO | 27 Dec 2007 |
Actions cited for edit
- ^ Minnaar, S. – Rescued two Reconnaissance Commando members in full kit, who fell overboard from their rubberduck when it capsized in 3 metre swells during a night exercise.[10]
- ^ Schoeman, M. – Rescued a Zambian general, who fell overboard off the Navy's strike craft, SAS Galeshewe, at Seal Island near Cape Point in 2001. Lieutenant Schoeman, without hesitation, removed his shoes, jumped into the water and helped save the general who had knocked his head against the bulk of the ship and lost consciousness when he fell overboard.[11][12]
- ^ Combrink, W. – Negotiated with an armed murderer, who had shot and killed two of his men, to hand himself over to Police.[13][14]
- ^ Lewis, G.S. – Navigated a launch 40 kilometres to safety through rough seas in stormy weather.[13][14]
- ^ a b Frieslaar and Williams – For exceptional duties performed during the fires of 2000.[15]
References edit
- ^ South African Medal Website - Post-nominal Letters (Accessed 28 April 2015)
- ^ a b South African Medal Website - SA Defence Force : 1952-1975 (Accessed 30 April 2015)
- ^ a b Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 457, no. 25213, Pretoria, 25 July 2003
- ^ a b c d e South African Medal Website - SA Defence Force : 1975-2003 (Accessed 30 April 2015)
- ^ South African Medal Website - Legal aspects - Fount of Honour (Accessed 1 May 2015)
- ^ a b c Republic of South Africa Government Gazette no. 15093, Pretoria, 3 September 1993
- ^ a b c Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 477, no. 27376, Pretoria, 11 March 2005, OCLC 72827981
- ^ Mussell, John W.; Editorial Team of Medal News (2004). Mackay, James (ed.). The Medal Yearbook 2004. Devon, UK: Token Publishing Ltd. p. 380. ISBN 978-1-870192-62-0.
- ^ Harmse, J.J. (19 November 2006). "Navy honours reluctant hero". Die Burger. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013.
- ^ News 24Archives - Navy bestows honours
- ^ "Navy rewards bravery". Die Burger. 6 October 2003. Archived from the original on 16 April 2014.
- ^ a b "Media Release". SA Navy Media Release. 26 November 2008.