Medical Service Cross

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).^[2][3][4]

The Medical Service Cross, post-nominal letters CC (Crux Curationis), was instituted by the State President in 1987.^[2][5]

The cross was initially awarded for exceptional ingenuity, resourcefulness and skill, and extraordinary leadership, dedication, sense of duty and personal example and courage in mortal danger in non-combatant situations. After 1993, the award criteria were altered to exceptional courage, leadership, skill, ingenuity or tenacity in dangerous or critical situations. A Bar, instituted in 1993, could be awarded in recognition of further similar displays of courage in danger.^[3]

The position of the Medical Service Cross in the official order of precedence was revised three times after 1975, to accommodate the inclusion or institution of new decorations and medals, first upon the integration into the South African National Defence Force on 27 April 1994, again in April 1996 when decorations and medals were belatedly instituted for the two former non-statutory forces, the Azanian People's Liberation Army and Umkhonto we Sizwe, and finally upon the institution of a new set of awards on 27 April 2003, but it remained unchanged on all three occasions.^[6][7]

Official SANDF order of precedence

• Preceded by the Navy Cross (CN) of the Republic of South Africa.
• Succeeded by the Southern Cross Medal (1952) (SM) of the Republic of South Africa.^[6][7]

Official national order of precedence

• Preceded by the Navy Cross (CN) of the Republic of South Africa.
• Succeeded by the Southern Cross Medal (1952) (SM) of the Republic of South Africa.^[6][7]