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[SIZE=3]General[/SIZE]

The Order of the Imperial Knights is the highest order of chivalry in the Empire of South Africa. The order was founded in 1847. Membership in the order is limited to a small number of knights, and is divided into two classes: members of reigning house and capitular knights. Before 1918, membership was limited to nobles, but after that date the statutes of the order were modified. However, capitular knights who are not nobles are raised to the nobility regulary anyway. Capitular knights are generally high-ranking government officials or military officers. A recipient is entitled to use the post-nominal letters IK. The badge of the order is a golden cross, enamelled in blue, with a diamont between the arms of the cross. The badge is worn from either a sash ribbon or chain. The ribbon of the order is an orange moiré sash worn from the left shoulder to the right hip, with the badge resting on the hip. The chain of the order is worn around the neck, with the badge suspended from it. It features 24 interlocking links, alternating a lion and a device featuring a center medallion with the motto Suum Cuique (literally "To each his own," but idiomatically "To each according to his merits."), a blue enameled ring around this, and crowns at each cross point. The star of the order is a silver eight-pointed star, with straight or faceted rays depending on the jeweller's design. The center medallion features a lion on a golden background, surrounded by a white enamelled ring bearing a wreath of laurels and the motto of the order, Suum Cuique. The lion gripped a wreath of laurels in its right claw and a thunderbolt in its left. At meetings of the chapter of the Order, a red velvet cape with blue lining is worn, featuring an embroidered star of the order on the left shoulder.

[SIZE=3]Military[/SIZE]

The Military Order of the Empires Greatest Defenders is the highest purely military order of the South African Empire. It was founded on January 1, 1806 by King Frederik I. The order comes in three classes - Grand Cross, Commander's Cross and Knight's Cross. The honor to become a member of the order is bestowed to members of the South African armed forces who distinguished themselves conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their life above and beyond the call of duty while engaged in an action against an enemy of the South African Empire. Because of its nature, membership is sometimes awarded posthumously. For recipients of the order who are not already members of the nobility, receipt of the order confers a patent of nobility, signified by the title "Knight" added to the recipient's name and the post-nominal letters GD. The badge of the order is a white-enameled gold Maltese cross with balls at the end of each cross point. The center medallion, in blue enamel and edged in gold, featured the monogram of King Frederik I on the obverse and the Latin motto of the order, "Virtuti pro patria" ("Bravery for the fatherland") on the reverse, both in gold. Above the cross was a gold crown. The badge of the Knight's Cross is much smaller than that of many other military orders and decorations. It measures 28-mm in width and 50-mm in height including the crown and ring. It is worn from a ribbon on the officer's medal bar ahead of other decorations or, typically, separately worn through the buttonhole. Since 1918, wear of the Knight's Cross around the neck, an unofficial practice for some time, is permitted by the existing chancery of the order. The badge of a Commander's Cross is somewhat larger than the Knight's Cross, measuring 38-mm by 55-mm. It is worn from a ribbon around the neck. The Grand Cross is still larger (68-mm by 100-mm), and has golden rays between the arms of the cross. The star of the order, which only comes with the Grand Cross, is a silver eight-pointed star (with each point made of five rays). The center of the star features a badge of the order, but with an oversized medallion, bearing the motto "Virtuti pro patria". The ribbon of the order is black moiré with inner white and outer blue edge stripes.

The Order of Distinguished Service is a military decoration of the South African Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat, each award being announced in the Pretoria Gazette. Recipients of the order are officially known as Companions of the Distinguished Service Order. They are entitled to use the post-nominal letters DSO. A bar is added to the ribbon for holders of the DSO who receive a second award. The medal signifying its award is a gold (silver-gilt) cross, enamelled white and edged in gold. In the centre, within a wreath of laurel, enamelled green, is the Imperial Crown in gold upon a red enamelled ground. On the reverse is the South African coat of arms in gold upon a red enamelled ground, within a wreath of laurel, enamelled green. A ring at the top of the medal attaches to a ring at the bottom of a gold "suspension" bar, ornamented with laurel. At the top of the ribbon is a second gold bar ornamented with laurel. The red ribbon has narrow blue edges. The medals are issued unnamed but some recipients have had their names engraved on the reverse of the suspension bar. The bar for a second award is plain gold with an Imperial Crown in the centre. The back of the bar is engraved with the year of the award. A rosette is worn on the ribbon in undress uniform to signify the award of a bar.

The Nkwe ya Gauta (Golden Leopard) is South Africa's highest military decoration. It may be awarded for exceptional bravery during military operations to those members of the South African military forces who were already awarded the Nkwe ya Selefera (Silver Leopard). A bar may be awarded to a recipient who earns the decoration again. A recipient is entitled to use the post-nominal letters NG. The decoration is a gold 5-armed convex cross with rays separating the arms. In the centre is a light blue roundel displaying a leopard's head. The South African coat of arms appears on the reverse. The ribbon is light blue with gold edges. Light blue represents the feathers of the blue crane bird, which Xhosa kings used to present to brave warriors. An arm-of-service emblem is worn on the ribbon to indicate whether the recipient was serving in the army, air force, navy, or military health service at the time of earning the decoration. The NG forms part of a trio of military decorations for bravery, the others being the Nkwe ya Selefera (Silver Leopard) and the Nkwe ya Boronse (Bronze Leopard).

The Nkwe ya Selefera (Silver Leopard) is a South African military decoration. It may be awarded for conspicuous bravery during military operations to those members of the South African military forces who were already awarded the Nkwe ya Boronse (Bronze Leopard).. A recipient is entitled to use the post-nominal letters NS. The decoration is a silver 5-armed convex cross with rays separating the arms. In the centre is a light blue roundel displaying a leopard's head. The South African coat of arms appears on the reverse. The ribbon is light blue with white edges. Light blue represents the feathers of the blue crane bird, which Xhosa kings used to present to brave warriors. An arm-of-service emblem is worn on the ribbon to indicate whether the recipient was serving in the army, air force, navy, or military health service at the time of earning the decoration. The NS forms part of a trio of military decorations for bravery, the others being the Nkwe ya Gauta (Golden Leopard) and the Nkwe ya Boronse (Bronze Leopard).

The Nkwe ya Boronse (Bronze Leopard) is a South African military decoration. It may be awarded for bravery during military operations to members of the South African armed forces. A recipient is entitled to use the post-nominal letters NB. The decoration is a bronze 5-armed convex cross with rays separating the arms. In the centre is a light blue roundel displaying a leopard's head. The South African coat of arms appears on the reverse. The ribbon is light blue with bronze edges. Light blue represents the feathers of the blue crane bird, which Xhosa kings used to present to brave warriors. An arm-of-service emblem is worn on the ribbon to indicate whether the recipient was serving in the army, air force, navy, or military health service at the time of earning the decoration. The NB forms part of a trio of military decorations for bravery, the others being the Nkwe ya Gauta (Golden Leopard) and the Nkwe ya Selefera (Silver Leopard).

iPhrothiya yeGolide (Golden Protea) is a South African military decoration. It may be awarded to members of the South African armed forces for exceptional leadership, or exceptional meritorious service and utmost devotion to duty in case these members are already awarded the iPhrothiya yeSiliva. A bar may be awarded to a recipient who earns the decoration again. A recipient is entitled to use the post-nominal letters PG. The decoration is a 6-pointed gold star, displaying a stylised protea flower on a blue hexagon. The reverse depicts the South African coat of arms. The protea is South Africa's national flower. The ribbon is blue with a centre panel of gold - black - gold stripes. If the decoration is earned during a military operation, an arm-of-service emblem will be worn on the ribbon to indicate whether the recipient was serving in the army, air force, navy, or military health service at the time of earning the award. The PG forms part of a trio of military decorations for meritorious service, the others being iPhrothiya yeSiliva (Silver Protea) and iPhrothiya yeBhronzi (Bronze Protea).

iPhrothiya yeSiliva (Silver Protea) is a South African military decoration. It may be awarded for outstanding leadership, or outstanding meritorious service and particular devotion to duty to members of the South African armed forces who earned the iPhrothiya yeBhronzi before. A recipient is entitled to use the post-nominal letters PS. The decoration is a 6-pointed silver star, displaying a stylised protea flower on a blue hexagon. The reverse depicts the South African coat of arms. The protea is South Africa's national flower. The ribbon is blue with a centre panel of white - black - gold - black - white stripes. If the decoration is earned during a military operation, an arm-of-service emblem will be worn on the ribbon to indicate whether the recipient was serving in the army, air force, navy, or military health service at the time of earning the award. The PS forms part of a trio of military decorations for meritorious service, the others being iPhrothiya yeGolide (Golden Protea) and iPhrothiya yeBhronzi (Bronze Protea).

iPhrothiya yeBhronzi (Bronze Protea) is a South African military decoration. It may be awarded to members of the South African armed forces for leadership, or meritorious service and devotion to duty. A recipient is entitled to use the post-nominal letters PB. The decoration is a 6-pointed bronze star, displaying a stylised protea flower on a blue hexagon. The reverse depicts the South African coat of arms. The protea is South Africa's national flower. The ribbon is blue with a centre panel of white - black - white - black - white - black - white stripes. If the decoration is earned during a military operation, an arm-of-service emblem will be worn on the ribbon to indicate whether the recipient was serving in the army, air force, navy, or military health service at the time of earning the award. The PB forms part of a trio of military decorations for meritorious service, the others being iPhrothiya yeGolide (Golden Protea) and iPhrothiya yeSiliva (Silver Protea).

The Combat Medal is a military decoration of the South African Empire which is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the South African armed forces, shall have distinguished himself/herself by meritorious achievement. Awards may be made to recognize single acts of merit or heroism, or for meritorious service. The medal can be earned more than once by a single person. The medal resembles a bronze compass rose charged with a lions volant carrying two lightning flashes in its pawn. At the top point a stylized propeller, anchor or cannon with a blood-red ruby at its top holds the suspension ring. For every time after the first time the medal is awarded another ruby is added. The points of the compass rose on the reverse are modeled with the central portion plain for engraving the name of the recipient.

The Medalje vir Troue Diens (Medal for Loyal Service) is a South African military medal. It is awarded to members of the South African military forces who complete ten years qualifying service and whose character and conduct have been irreproachable. Clasps are added after further periods of ten years service. The medal is silver-nickel, and has a scalloped edge. The obverse displays the South African coat of arms, and the reverse bears the words "Vir Troue Diens". The ribbon is green edged in red and white (on the left) and blue and white (on the right).

[SIZE=3]Civilian[/SIZE]

The Queen's Medal for Bravery is the highest South African civilian decoration. It was instituted by Queen Stefana on 23 June 1873. The Queen's Medal is awarded for gallantry in saving or endeavouring to save the lives of others. It has two classes: gold and silver. Although it is primarily a civilian award, during war times it is also granted to military personnel, for non-combatant acts of gallantry. The medal depicts a men in 18th-century style cloth on a horse in front of Cape Good Hope, rescuing shipwreck survivors from a stormy sea. As a result, the medal is often humorous referred to as the "Shipwreck Medal". Its ribbon is blue with orange edges, two of the colours of the South African national flag. The medal is rated equal to the Nkwe ya Gauta which is the highest military decoration. However, despite its status, the medal has no post-nominal letters.

The Conspicuous Gallantry Medallion is the second level civil decoration of the South African Empire. It was instituted to recognize civilian gallantry and brave deeds. Announcing the new award, King Phillip II said: "In order that they should be worthily and promptly recognised, I have decided to create, at once, a new mark of honour for men and women in all walks of civilian life. "The medallion is granted in recognition of "acts of great bravery". The CGM was originally not issued posthumously, however the warrant was amended in 1918 to for such awards, several of which have been subsequently made. The medal is primarily a civilian award; however the medallion may be awarded to military personnel for gallant conduct which is not in the face of the enemy. As the King stated: "The Medal is intended primarily for civilians and award in Our military services is to be confined to actions for which purely military Honours are not normally granted." Bars are awarded to the CGM in recognition of the performance of further acts of bravery meriting the award. In undress uniform or on occasions when the medal ribbon alone is worn, a silver rosette is worn on the ribbon to indicate each bar. Recipients are entitled to the post-nominal letters GM. The Conspicuous Gallantry Medallion is a circular silver medal. The obverse depicts the crowned effigy of the reigning monarch and a legend. The reverse show a stylised protea flower. The ribbon is red with five equally spaced thin blue stripes.