Editing Mentioned in dispatches (section)

=== South Africa ===

In 1920 the [[Minister of Defence and Military Veterans (South Africa)|Minister of Defence]] of the [[Union of South Africa]] was empowered to award a multiple-leaved bronze [[Oak leaf cluster|oak leaf emblem]] to all servicemen and servicewomen mentioned in dispatches during the [[First World War]] for valuable services in action. The emblem, which was regarded as a decoration, was worn on the ribbon of the [[Victory Medal (United Kingdom)|Victory Medal (Union of South Africa)]]. Only one emblem was worn, irrespective of the number of times a recipient had been mentioned.<ref name="Alexander">{{cite book|last = Alexander|first = EGM|author2=Barron, GKB|author3=Bateman, AJ|title = South African Orders, Decorations and Medals |publisher = Human and Rousseau Publishers|year = 1986|location = Cape Town|pages = 160|isbn = 0-7981-1895-4}}</ref>

The [[Afrikaans]] rendition of ''mentioned in dispatches'' is {{lang|af|Eervolle Vermelding in Berigte}}.

In 1943, the [[South African Defence Force|Union Defence Force]] confirmed the availability of the British award, the bronze oak leaf, for acts of bravery, in contact with the enemy, which fell just short of the standard required for the granting of a decoration, or for valuable services not necessarily in immediate contact with the enemy.

The mention in dispatches (MiD) was one of only four awards which could be made posthumously. The others were the [[Victoria Cross]], the [[George Cross]], and the [[Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct|King's Commendation]] (South Africa). The oak leaf emblem was worn on the ribbon of the [[War Medal 1939–1945]].

The [[King's Commendation (South Africa) (1939–45)]] was denoted by a bronze [[Protea cynaroides|King Protea]] flower emblem worn on the ribbon of the [[Africa Service Medal]], for valuable services in connection with the [[Second World War]]. It could be awarded posthumously and was the equivalent of a mention in dispatches for services rendered away from the battlefield.<ref name="Alexander"/>

The MiD and the King's Commendation (SA) were the only decorations that could be approved by the South African Minister of Defence without reference to the King.<ref name="Alexander" />