Southern Cross Medal (1952)

Southern Cross Medal (1952)
TypeMilitary decoration for merit
Awarded forOutstanding devotion to duty
Country South Africa
Presented bythe Monarch of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms and, from 1961, the State President
EligibilityAll ranks until 1967
Officers from 1967
Post-nominalsSM
StatusDiscontinued in 1975
Established1952
First awarded1960
Ribbon bar
Precedence
Next (higher)
SADF precedence:
SANDF precedence:
Next (lower)
SADF succession:
SANDF succession:

The Southern Cross Medal of 1952, post-nominal letters SM, is a South African military decoration which was instituted by the Union of South Africa in 1952. It was awarded for outstanding devotion to duty and was originally available to all ranks, but from 1967 until July 1975, when it was discontinued, it was reserved for officers.[1]