Honoris Crux

The Honoris Crux Decoration was a South African military decoration that was awarded from 1952 to 2003. There were two distinct versions.

First type
The first type, introduced on 6 April 1952, was awarded for gallantry in action against the enemy in the field.

It was a silver-gilt Maltese cross with eagles between the arms. The obverse was green, with an orange-white-blue centre disc framed in a red circle inscribed "Honoris Crux". The reverse displayed the 1910 South African national coat of arms, and specimens made before 1961 also had Queen Elizabeth II's royal cipher E II R. The ribbon was green with red and white edges.

Only five awards were made, all to members of the South African Air Force, the first in 1973 and the others in 1975.

Second type
The second type, introduced on 1 July 1975, was reconstituted as the lowest of the four classes of the Honoris Crux Decoration (see also Honoris Crux Diamond, Honoris Crux Gold, and Honoris Crux Silver), and was awarded for bravery in dangerous circumstances. While most of the awards were won in action, some were non-combat. The rules were later amended to restrict the awarding of HC for bravery in combat action while in danger of life. 201 decorations were awarded between 1976 and 2004.

The second-type HC was a silver Maltese cross superimposed on crossed swords and a wreath of protea flowers and leaves. Its obverse is enamelled white, with an orange-white-blue centre disc. The reverse displays the national coat of arms. The ribbon is orange, with white edges and a white line inset from each edge.

The South African military unit awarded the most Honoris Crux Decorations is the South African Special Forces, whose personnel were awarded a total of forty-six Honoris Crux Decorations during the South African Border War in South West Africa (Namibia) and Angola.

The Honoris Crux Decoration was discontinued, and was superseded by the Nkwe ya Boronse on 27 April 2003.

Design
Two swords in saltire surmounted by a circular Protea wreath, all in silver gilt; thereon a green Maltese Cross charged with a roundel tierced horizontally in orange, white and blue, witin a silver gilt circular border. The old South African Coat of Arms appears on the reverse. The ribbon is Orange, 32mm in width with a 2mm white edges and a 1mm white stripe 5mm from each edge.
 * Obverse
 * Reverse
 * Ribbon

Honoris Crux (2nd Type)
Note 1: denotes posthumous award. Note 2: ♦ Indicates a non-combat or non-operational act of bravery.