Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Silver
Type	Civil decoration for bravery
Awarded for	Acts of conspicuous bravery
Country	UK South Africa
Presented by	the Monarch of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth, and Emperor of India
Eligibility	South African citizens
Status	Discontinued in 1952
Established	1939
Total	34
Ribbon bar
British & South African orders of wear
Next (higher)	UK precedence: Indian Distinguished Service Medal, Silver SA precedence: Louw Wepener Decoration
Equivalent	Union of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery, Silver Woltemade Decoration for Bravery, Silver
Next (lower)	UK succession: Distinguished Service Medal SA succession: South African Police Cross for Bravery

TheUnion of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Silver is the lesser of two classes of a South African civil decoration for acts of bravery that was in use from 1939 to 1952, when the country was a constitutional monarchy in theBritish Commonwealth. The medal was instituted byKing George VI on 23 June 1939.^[1][2]

The Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Silver, the lesser of two classes of South Africa's highest civilian decoration for bravery, was instituted by Royal Warrant of 23 June 1939, published in Government Gazette no. 2671 dated 25 August 1939, and amended by Royal Warrants of 18 February 1947, 24 October 1949 and 17 October 1950.^[1]

The medal was awarded to recognise gallantry performed in the face of imminent and obvious peril by those residents of theUnion of South Africa or its dependent territories who endangered their own lives in the act of saving, or endeavouring to save, the lives of others.^[1]

Although it was primarily a civilian award, it was also granted to military personnel for non-combatant acts of gallantry during theSecond World War.^[2][3]

In the British order of precedence, the Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Silver ranks as a third level decoration, equivalent to theQueen's Gallantry Medal. It is preceded by theIndian Distinguished Service Medal and succeeded by theDistinguished Service Medal.^[4]

In South Africa, the medal is ranked as a second level decoration and, despite its status, it has no post-nominal letters. It is preceded by theLouw Wepener Decoration and succeeded by theSouth African Police Cross for Bravery.^[5]

Obverse

The decoration is struck in silver and is a disk, 38 millimetres in diameter with a raised rim and a large ring suspender. The obverse depicts the crowned effigy of King George VI, facing left, surrounded by the words "GEORGIVS VI REX ET IMPERATOR".

Reverse

A public competition was held to find a suitable design for the reverse of the medal. The winning entry, by Miss Renee Joubert, depicts the 18th-century Cape heroWolraad Woltemade on his horse, rescuing shipwreck survivors from a stormy sea. As a result, the medal became commonly referred to as the Woltemade Medal. The image is circumscribed with the words "FOR BRAVERY • VIR DAPPERHEID" around the top.^[1][3]

Ribbon

The ribbon is 44 millimetres wide and dark blue with 4½ millimetres wide orange edges.^[1]

Upon the accession to the British Throne ofQueen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952, the Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Silver was discontinued and replaced by theUnion of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery, Silver.^[1]

The Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Silver was awarded to altogether thirty-four individuals, of whom eighteen were military personnel.^[1][2]

• Civil awards and decorations of South Africa
• Civil awards and decorations of the United Kingdom
• Awards established in 1939
• 1939 establishments in South Africa

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