and soldered together. The medal number was impressed at the bottom on the rim. Ribbons When it was instituted as the South African Defence Force Good Service Medal, Gold for award to all elements of the South African Defence Force, three separate ribbons were used for the three elements of the Force. They were all 32 millimetres wide and green, with three 1 millimetre wide bands, 2 millimetres from each side and spaced 1 millimetre apart, in white to indicate Permanent Force service, in dark blue to indicate Citizen Force service or in orange to indicate Commando service. Orange, white and blue are the colours of the pre-1994 national flag. These three ribbons were replaced by a single new ribbon in 1993, when the award of the medal was restricted to Permanent Force personnel and it was renamed the Good Service Medal, Gold. The new ribbon was 32 millimetres wide and green, with two yellow bands, each 7 millimetres wide and spaced 6 millimetres apart. Discontinuation Conferment of the Good Service Medal, Gold was discontinued in respect of services performed on or after 27 April 2003. References Military decorations and medals of South Africa Awards established in 1975 1975 establishments in South Africa