The Army Cross, post-nominal letters CM (Crux Militaria), is a

military decoration Military awards and decorations are distinctions given as a mark of honor for military heroism, meritorious or outstanding service or achievement. A decoration is often a medal consisting of a ribbon and a medallion. Civil decorations award ...

which was instituted by the

Republic of South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

in 1987. It was awarded to members of the

South African Army The South African Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of South Africa, a part of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), along with the South African Air Force, South African Navy and South African Military Health Servi ...

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).
(Accessed 30 April 2015)
(Accessed 30 April 2015) Suid-Afrikaanse militêre dekorasies: 1952-1975 Suid-Afrikaanse militêre dekorasies: 1975-2003Republic of South Africa Government Gazette Vol. 457, no. 25213, Pretoria, 25 July 2003
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Institution

The Army Cross, post-nominal letters CM (Crux Militaria), was instituted by the State President in 1987.
(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 The Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA), formerly known as Poqo, was the military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress, an African nationalist movement in South Africa. In the Xhosa language, the word 'Poqo' means 'pure'. After attacks ...

and

Umkhonto we Sizwe uMkhonto weSizwe (; abbreviated MK; ) was the paramilitary wing of the African National Congress (ANC), founded by Nelson Mandela in the wake of the Sharpeville massacre. Its mission was to fight against the South African government to brin ...

, 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 ''Protea'' () is a genus of South African flowering plants, also called sugarbushes (Afrikaans: ''suikerbos''). It is the type genus of the Proteaceae family. About 92% of the species occur only in the Cape Floristic Region, a narrow belt of mo ...

, 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 The Navy Cross is the United States Naval Service's second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is equivalent to the Army ...

Medical Service Cross The Medical Service Cross, post-nominal letters CC (Crux Curationis), is a South African military decorations, military decoration which was instituted by the South Africa, Republic of South Africa in 1987. It was awarded to members of the Sout ...

Southern Cross Medal (1975) The Southern Cross Medal of 1975, post-nominal letters SM, is a South African military decorations, military decoration which was instituted by the South Africa, Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. It was awarded to officers of the South A ...

and

Pro Merito Medal (1975) The Pro Merito Medal of 1975, post-nominal letters PMM, is a South African military decorations, military decoration which was instituted by the South Africa, Republic of South Africa on 1 July 1975. It was awarded to other ranks of the South A ...

. ;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.

Actions cited for

References

{{South African military decorations and medals Military decorations and medals of South Africa Courage awards 1987 establishments in South Africa Awards established in 1987 2003 disestablishments in South Africa Awards disestablished in 2003