Distinguished Gallantry Medal

The Distinguished Gallantry Medal was instituted by the State President of the Republic of Bophuthatswana in 1982, for award to all ranks for extraordinary gallantry.

The Bophuthatswana Defence Force
The Bophuthatswana Defence Force (BDF) was established upon that country's independence on 6 December 1977. It was organised into six military regions and the ground forces included two infantry battalions. The Bophuthatswana Air Wing was renamed to the Bophuthatswana Air Force (BAF) in late 1987, by which time it had twelve aircraft on strength. Initial training was provided by the South African Defence Force.

The Fount of Honour for all Bophuthatswana's military decorations and medals was the State President of Bophuthatswana.

The Republic of Bophuthatswana ceased to exist on 27 April 1994 and the Bophuthatswana Defence Force was amalgamated with six other military forces into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). The seven constituent military forces were:
 * The South African Defence Force (SADF).
 * The Transkei Defence Force (TDF) of the Republic of Transkei.
 * The Bophuthatswana Defence Force.
 * The Venda Defence Force (VDF) of the Republic of Venda.
 * The Ciskei Defence Force (CDF) of the Republic of Ciskei.
 * Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the military wing of the African National Congress.
 * The Azanian People's Liberation Army (APLA), the military wing of the Pan Africanist Congress.

Award criteria
The Distinguished Gallantry Medal was instituted by the State President in 1982 and was awarded to all ranks for extraordinary gallantry.

Order of precedence
Since the Distinguished Gallantry Medal was authorised for wear by one of the statutory forces that came to be part of the South African National Defence Force on 27 April 1994, it was accorded a position in the official South African order of precedence on that date. The position of the Distinguished Gallantry Medal in the official order of precedence was revised on 27 April 2003 to accommodate the institution of a new set of honours.


 * Bophuthatswana Defence Force until 26 April 1994:
 * Official BDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Defence Force Merit Decoration.
 * Succeeded by the Defence Force Merit Medal.


 * Bophuthatswana official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Order of the Leopard Class IV, Member.
 * Succeeded by the Medal for Valour in the Prisons Service.


 * South African National Defence Force from 27 April 1994:
 * Official SANDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Louw Wepener Medal (LWM) of the Republic of South Africa.
 * Succeeded by the Ad Astra Decoration (AAD) of the Republic of South Africa.


 * Official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Louw Wepener Medal (LWM) of the Republic of South Africa.
 * Succeeded by the Medal for Valour in the Prisons Service of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.


 * South African National Defence Force from 27 April 2003:
 * Official SANDF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Louw Wepener Medal (LWM) of the Republic of South Africa.
 * Succeeded by the Nkwe ya Boronse (NB) of the Republic of South Africa.


 * Official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Louw Wepener Medal (LWM) of the Republic of South Africa.
 * Succeeded by the Medal for Valour in the Prisons Service of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.

Description
The Distinguished Gallantry Medal is a silver-gilt medallion 38 millimetres in diameter, with a 4 millimetres wide rim and a leopard head on a roundel in the centre, framed in a decorated circle.
 * Obverse

The reverse displays the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Bophuthatswana.
 * Reverse

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and red, with an 8 millimetres wide green band in the centre.
 * Ribbon

Discontinuation
Conferment of the Distinguished Gallantry Medal was discontinued when the Republic of Bophuthatswana ceased to exist on 27 April 1994.