Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

South Africa, Republic, Decoration for Meritorious Service, neck badge, 128mm including wreath suspension x 78mm, gold, silver, and enamel, with 5 diamonds around central medallion, 175 grams, reverse engraved ‘Bernard Albert Armitage 22 Maart 1984’, and officially numbered ‘92’, second digit of number officially corrected, gold marks (.750) to reverse, with full neck riband, in fitted case of issue with lapel rosette, about extremely fine £1800-2200

Bernard Albert Armitage was awarded the Decoration for Meritorious Service on 22 March 1984. The citation states: ‘Bernard Albert Armitage was educated in Pietermaritzburg, qualified in dentistry and medicine in Edinburgh in 1931, and was elected a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1935. From 1932 he practiced in Pietermaritzburg, specialising in surgery, and became head of the Department of Surgery of Grey’s Hospital, a post which he held until his retirement in 1967. He was also an honorary visiting surgeon at Edendale Hospital for Non-Whites from its opening until 1966.
Dr. Armitage was secretary of the Natal Inland Branch of the Medical Association of South Africa for five years, and then became its President. He was elected to the Federal Council in 1945 and to its Executive Committee in 1957. In 1968 he was elected National President of the Medical Association, and was awarded the Association’s gold medal for meritorious service.
During most of his working life Dr. Armitage has been an active Rotarian, becoming president of the Pietermaritzburg Club and governor of his district. He was also chairman of the Pietermaritzburg and District Community Chest and has been a lifelong member of the South African Red Cross Society, attaining the highest office successively at local, provincial, and national levels. He was granted honorary life membership, the Society’s highest award. He also served on the National Council and Executive Committee of the South African National Tuberculosis Association.
Bernard Armitage has also had a long and distinguished association with the University of Natal. He was elected to the University Council by the constituency of donors, serving as vice-chairman for several years. He was also chairman of the Joint Standing Advisory Committee of the Faculty of Medicine for two years. In 1973 he was appointed Chancellor of the University, an office which he laid down in 1983.
In 1972 Dr. Armitage’s name was inscribed on the Pietermaritzburg Civic Honours Register. He is honoured today for his lifelong service to his community and his country.’

Sold together with the Bestowal Document; official Citation; copy of the Statutes of the Decoration for Meritorious Service ; letter regarding the institution of the Order for Meritorious Service; and a copy of the recipient’s Inaugural Address as chancellor of the University of Natal.

The Decoration for Meritorious Service was instituted by the Republic of South Africa on 25 September 1970; it was replaced in 1987 by the Order for Meritorious Service, which came in two classes, with recipients of the Decoration for Meritorious Service deemed to be holders of the Order for Meritorious Service, 1st Class.

Owing to the increase in the gold price, and the fluctuations between the dollar and the pound, this lot now has a revised estimate of £4000-4400 to reflect its intrinsic value.