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Miniature circular silvered medal with claw and fixed ribbon bar suspension; the face with the arms of South Africa; the reverse dated ‘1939 1945’ centrally within a circular wreath of protea, circumscribed ‘SOUTH AFRICA SUID-AFRIKA • FOR WAR SERVICES • VIR OORLOGDIENSTE’; diameter 18.68mm (0.73 inch); on original ribbon.
The Medal was instituted on 29 December 1946 to be awarded for two years’ aggregate service between 6 September 1939 and 15 February 1946 in voluntary unpaid service in an approved organisation, such as the Red Cross of South Africa. Members of the Armed Forces did not qualify, nor did those already awarded the Africa Service Medal.
In the event, only about 17,500 full-size medals were awarded in all and it is thus not often found, especially in miniature.
This example is of relatively recent manufacture.
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