Honoris Crux Gold

Honoris Crux Gold (HCG)

Ribbon: 32mm, orange with a white centre line
Awarded by South African Defence Force
Type Medal
Awarded for Outstanding bravery in extreme danger
Status Discontinued
Statistics
First awarded 1976
Last awarded 1991
Total awarded 6
Precedence
Next (higher) Honoris Crux Diamond

The Honoris Crux Gold was a South African military decoration that existed from 1975 to 1993. It was the second of the four classes of the Honoris Crux Decoration (see also Honoris Crux Diamond, Honoris Crux Silver, and Honoris Crux).[1] The decoration is awarded for outstanding acts of bravery while in extreme danger and is of silver gilt. A bar may be awarded to a member qualifying for a second award. The bar is precisely the same as the bar to the Honoris Crux Diamond. The recipient is entitled to the post-nominal title HCG.[2]

Five decorations were won in combat, and one in a sea rescue operation. It has been superseded by the Nkwe ya Gauta decoration.

Contents

Recipients

      Indicates posthumous award.

Medal Number Name Service Rank Unit Date of award Action cited for
001 De Wet, Christoffel H.Christoffel H. De Wet[3] SA Army 2nd Lieutenant 2nd Field Engineer Regiment, SAEC 01975-12-26 26 December 1975[2] First recipient of the Honoris Crux Gold. Cited for clearing a road of landmines while under enemy fire: Angola.[4]
002 Wessels, David EricDavid Eric Wessels[3] SA Army 2nd Lieutenant 2nd Field Engineer Regiment, SAEC 01975-12-28 28 December 1975[2]
—
003 Fernando, GabrielGabriel Fernando[3] SA Army Corporal 5 Reconnaissance Regiment, SAIC 01980-08-01 1 August 1980[2] Awarded for deeds of gallantry on five separate occasions in 1980.[5] .
004 Walker, Arthur W.Arthur W. Walker[3] SAAF Lieutenant AFB Ondangwa[6] 01981-01-15 15 January 1981[2] The most highly decorated SADF member of the Border War. Cited for HCG for risking his life during a night operation in Angola, by turning on the lights of his helicopter to draw enemy fire away from another helicopter.[7]
005 Walker, Arthur W.Arthur W. Walker[3] SAAF Captain AFB Ondangwa[6] 01981-12-29 29 December 1981[2] Bar to HCG. Cited for landing in enemy territory to search for and rescue the crew of a helicopter that had been shot down.[7]
006 Whiley, P.B.P.B. Whiley[3] SA Navy Able Seaman SAS Scorpion 01991-08-04 4 August 1991[2] Awarded for rescue actions associated with the sinking of MTS Oceanos

References and Links

References

  1. ^ Alexander, E. G. M., Barron G. K. B. and Bateman, A. J. (1986). South African Orders, Decorations and Medals. Human and Rousseau. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Medal Roll". http://www.justdone.co.za/SAMS/People.php?MedalNo=782. 
  3. ^ a b c d e f Uys, Ian (1992). Cross of Honour. Uys Publishers. 
  4. ^ "South African Medal Website". South African Orders, Decorations, & Medals A-Z. http://hwmw.bravehost.com/4-def.htm. 
  5. ^ "History of the South African Special Forces". http://www.samagte.co.za/weermag/spesmagte/speshistory.html. 
  6. ^ a b "Honoris Crux — Our Brave". http://www.samagte.co.za/weermag/hc/bravery.html. 
  7. ^ a b "South African Medal Website". South African Orders, Decorations, & Medals A-Z. http://hwmw.bravehost.com/4-vwxyz.htm. 

See also

External links