Pro Virtute Medal

The Pro Virtute Medal, post-nominal letters PVM, is a military decoration for bravery that was instituted by the Republic of South Africa in 1987, but never awarded. The decoration was intended for award to other ranks of the South African Defence Force for distinguished conduct and outstanding combat leadership in the field.

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).

Orders, decorations and medals
In April 1952 a series of military decorations and medals was instituted, consisting of substitutes for many of the British and Commonwealth awards which had earlier been used. More decorations and medals, as well as an emblem for being mentioned in dispatches, were added between 1953 and 1970. In July 1975 the military decorations and medals of the Republic were revised. Some decorations and medals were carried over from the earlier series of 1952-1975 and new awards were instituted, followed by more between 1987 and 1991. Finally, all but one of these earlier awards were discontinued in respect of services performed on or after 27 April 2003, when a new set of nine decorations and medals was instituted to replace them.

Fount of Honour
Until 1958 the top three awards were reserved for conferment by the Queen while the rest were awarded by the Governor-General, but in 1958 the Governor-General was authorised to also award the top three. In 1961 the State President became the Fount of Honour, and in 1994 the President.

Award criteria for the Pro Virtute Medal
The Pro Virtute Medal, post-nominal letters PVM, was instituted to be awarded to other ranks of the South African Defence Force for distinguished conduct and outstanding combat leadership in the field.

Order of precedence
The Pro Virtute Medal still appeared in the official order of precedence table that was published on 3 September 1993 but, since it was never awarded and was officially discontinued on 27 April 2003, it was no longer listed when a new table was published on 11 March 2005.


 * South African Defence Force until 26 April 1994:
 * Official SADF order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Louw Wepener Medal (LWM).
 * Succeeded by the Ad Astra Decoration (AAD).


 * Official national order of precedence:
 * Preceded by the Louw Wepener Medal (LWM).
 * Succeeded by the Ad Astra Decoration (AAD).

Description
The Pro Virtute Medal is a silver medallion, 38 millimetres in diameter, depicting a five-armed Maltese cross with one arm pointing down and a raised roundel framed by three rings in the centre.
 * Obverse

The reverse has the pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms over the words "PRO VIRTUTE", framed by a laurel wreath.
 * Reverse

The ribbon is 32 millimetres wide and orange with two pale blue bands, each 4 millimetres wide and spaced 4 millimetres apart.
 * Ribbon

Discontinuation
Conferment of the Pro Virtute Medal was officially discontinued in respect of services performed on or after 27 April 2003. Since it was never awarded and now never will be, the decoration was no longer listed in the official order of precedence list since 2005.