- Time Period: Post-WW2
- Institution: 20 May 1970
- Country: South Africa
The Woltemade Decoration for Bravery is a South African civil decoration awarded for acts of bravery. It replaced the King’s Medal for Bravery, Silver and Queen’s Medal for Bravery. The award of which was discontinued in South Africa in 1961.
The Silver Woltemade Decoration for Bravery was established by the Republic of South Africa in 1970 through a Warrant dated May 20, 1970, as published in Government Gazette no. 2718 on May 29, 1970. Subsequently, the Warrant was modified twice, on November 11, 1971, and May 30, 1973, to broaden the criteria for eligibility for this decoration.
The decoration pays tribute to the heroic act of Wolraad Woltemade, an elderly employee of the Dutch East India Company. On June 1, 1773, he sacrificed his life to save shipwrecked sailors in Table Bay. During a powerful Northwestern gale, the ship De Jonge Thomas lost its anchor and was pushed ashore at the Salt River Mouth. Woltemade courageously rode his horse into the turbulent sea seven times, rescuing surviving sailors with each trip. Tragically, during his eighth rescue attempt, Woltemade and his exhausted horse were overwhelmed by panicked sailors and succumbed to the sea.
The Woltemade Decoration for Bravery Design
The decoration is crafted from silver, measuring 38 millimeters in diameter, featuring a raised rim and a sizable ring suspender.
On the obverse side, it showcases Wolraad Woltemade on his horse amidst the waves, with the words “FOR BRAVERY • VIR DAPPERHEID” encircling the upper perimeter. This design mirrors the one used on the earlier King’s and Queen’s Medals for Bravery, Silver.
The reverse side displays the South African Coat of Arms’ crest, where a lion holds four staves, symbolizing the four provinces of the Republic of South Africa. Surrounding the crest is a wreath of proteas, encircled by the inscriptions “REPUBLIEK VAN SUID-AFRIKA” above and “REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA” below.
The ribbon, 44 millimeters wide, is predominantly blue with 4 millimeters wide light orange edges.
