Louw Wepener Medal

• Name — Louw Wepener Medal • Presenter — the State President • Country — South Africa • Type — Military decoration for bravery • Eligibility — All Ranks • Awarded For — Courageous or heroic deeds in saving lives • Status — Discontinued in 1975 • Clasps — Bar for subsequent award • Post Nominals — LWM • Established — 1967 • Firstawarded — 1969 • Lastawarded — 1975 • Total Awarded — 8 • Precedence Label — SADF pre-1994 & SANDF post-2002 orders of wear • Higher — * SADF precedence: • Van Riebeeck Medal • SANDF precedence: • Van Riebeeck Medal • Lower — * SADF succession: • Pro Virtute Medal • SANDF succession: • Distinguished Gallantry Medal • Image2 — * Illustration — x29px • Caption2 — Ribbon bar

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).

The Louw Wepener Medal, post-nominal letters LWM, was instituted by the State President on 20 October 1967, as a second-level military decoration for bravery in addition to the existing Louw Wepener Decoration. The awards were named in honour of Louw Wepener who, in 1865, lost his life whilst leading his burghers in an attack on a Basotho stronghold on Thaba Bosigo, during the Basuto Wars of 1858 to 1865.

The position of the Louw Wepener Medal in the official order of precedence was revised twice after 1975, to accommodate the inclusion or institution of new decorations and medals, first upon the integration into the South African National Defence Force in 1994 and again upon the institution of a new set of awards in 2003. • South African Defence Force until 26 April 1994: • Illustration — Van Riebeeck Medal (VRM) • Illustration — Louw Wepener Medal (LWM) • Illustration — Pro Virtute Medal (PVM) • Official SADF order of precedence: • Preceded by the Van Riebeeck Medal (VRM). • Succeeded by the Pro Virtute Medal (PVM). • Official national order of precedence: • Preceded by the Van Riebeeck Medal (VRM). • Succeeded by the Pro Virtute Medal (PVM). • South African National Defence Force from 27 April 1994: • Illustration — Van Riebeeck Medal (VRM) • Illustration — Louw Wepener Medal (LWM) • Illustration — Distinguished Gallantry Medal • Official SANDF order of precedence: • Preceded by the Van Riebeeck Medal (VRM) of the Republic of South Africa. • Succeeded by the Distinguished Gallantry Medal of the Republic of Bophuthatswana. • Official national order of precedence: • Preceded by the Van Riebeeck Medal (VRM) of the Republic of South Africa. • Succeeded by the Distinguished Gallantry Medal of the Republic of Bophuthatswana. The position of the Louw Wepener Medal in the order of precedence remained unchanged, as it was on 27 April 1994, when decorations and medals were belatedly instituted in April 1996 for the two former non-statutory forces, the Azanian People's Liberation Army and Umkhonto we Sizwe, and again when a new series of military orders, decorations and medals was instituted in South Africa on 27 April 2003.

Conferment of the decoration was discontinued in respect of services performed on or after 1 July 1975, when a new set of decorations and medals was instituted.

• LWM no. — Name — Rank — Service Arm — Unit — Date awarded • Godfrey, E.J.J. — data-sort-value="18"|Gnr — SA Army — SAA • Nell, D.H. — data-sort-value="14"|S Sgt — SA Army — SSB • Froneman, J.J. — data-sort-value="18"|Sea — SA Navy • Lamont, J.F. — data-sort-value="16"|LS — SA Navy — SAS EH • Swanepoel, M.P.P. — data-sort-value="16"|LS — SA Navy • Meyer, J.J. — data-sort-value="15"|Sgt — SA Army — Hoëveld • Blaauw, D.I. — data-sort-value="10"|2 Lt — SA Army — 1 PB • Marrs, S.B. — data-sort-value="18"|Spr — SA Army

e. Meyer, JJ - Sergt Johannes Jogemus MEYER, Regiment Highveld, Awarded for rescuing a fellow soldier from drowning in the crocodile infested waters of the Kavango River, South West Africa (1 Military Area Rundu) on 22 April 1972. Medal numbered 10.