- Time Period: Post-WW2
- Institution: 1967
- Country: South Africa
The Pro Merito Medal of 1967, identified by the post-nominal letters PMM, is a military honor established by the Republic of South Africa in 1967. It was conferred upon other ranks of the South African Defence Force in recognition of exceptional devotion to duty.
Serving as the counterpart to the Southern Cross Medal of 1952 (SM), which was previously accessible to all ranks, the Pro Merito Medal specifically honored non-commissioned officers. Prior to the introduction of the Pro Merito Medal, other ranks were eligible for the Southern Cross Medal.
The South African Pro Merito Medal Design
The Pro Merito Medal of 1967 is a silver medallion measuring 38 millimeters in diameter and 3 millimeters thick. It features a depiction of a disa uniflora encircled by a wreath of protea flowers.
The reverse side displays the embossed pre-1994 South African Coat of Arms, with the decoration number impressed at the bottom of the medallion on the rim.
Initially, the ribbon measured 32 millimeters in width and consisted of dark blue, orange, white, and dark blue bands, each 3¼ millimeters wide, with an orange band measuring 1½ millimeters wide. These bands were repeated in reverse order and separated by a white band in the center, which was 3 millimeters wide. However, due to its resemblance to the ribbon of the Permanent Force Good Service Medal, a new ribbon was introduced, as announced in Government Gazette No. 2047 dated April 19, 1968.
