Who Qualifies to become a MOTH?

Qualifications to Join the MOTH

The Order is an independent brotherhood of ex-service men and women as well as serving men and women whose membership is confined to those who served or currently serve their country in the armed services.

Qualification to the Memorable Order of Tin Hats, as documented in  “Annexure B ” of  MOTH Standing orders.

(Updated 21 November 2021)

Terminology:

  • Active deployment refers to combat soldiers.
  • Support deployment refers to those rendering services to combat soldiers.
  • Operational Area refers to deployment on the SWA/Angola border where specific emergency laws were incorporated, and in South Africa during the State of Emergency.
  • Non-operational Area refers to areas where hostile insurgencies were actively opposed without the area ever being declared by law as an Operational Area.

Clause 1
WARS BEFORE 31 AUGUST 1945 IN WHICH ALLIED FORCES WERE INVOLVED

  • Veterans of World War 1 & World War 2 serving in all theatres of operations.

Clause 2
BRITISH-, COMMONWEALTH-, UNITED NATIONS- and UNITED STATES FORCES:

  • Minor campaigns: Palestine (1948 – 1949); Malaya (1948 – 1960); Korea (1950 – 1956); Kenya (1952 – 1956); Cyprus (1955 – 1959); Suez (1956 – 1957); Western Malaya (1962 – 1968); Brunei (1962 – 1968) and Yemen (1964 – 1967)
  • Rhodesian (North and South) and Nyasaland Federation Emergency Mobilization from 1961 to 1962.
  • Vietnam War from 1965 to 1973.
  • Northern Ireland from 1969 to 1999.
  • Falklands War from 02 April 1982 to 21 October 1982.

Clause 3
RHODESIAN SECURITY FORCES:

  • Active- and support deployment during the Rhodesian Bush War from 1966 to 1980.

Clause 4
SOUTH WEST AFRICAN TERRITORIAL FORCE and SWAPOL-COIN:

  • Active- and support deployment during the SWA / Angola Border War from 1979 to 1989.

Clause 5
SOUTH AFRICAN SECURITY FORCES (DEFENCE and POLICE):

  • Active participation in operations in neighbouring countries i.e. Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Rhodesia, Swaziland, SWA and Tanzania including Naval Forces at sea in the area from the equator on the African West coast around Cape Aghulhas to the equator on the African East coast during the period from 1966 to 1989.
  • Service in an operational- and support area during the SWA / Angola Border War from 1973 to 1989.
  • Service in area not specifically designated an operational area but rendering support in the combat of hostile insurgencies i.e. Botswana-, Lesotho-, Mozambique-, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe-) and SWA borders during the period from 1966 to 1983.

Clause 6
SOUTH AFRICAN SECURITY FORCES (DEFENCE and POLICE):

  • Active participation in urban and rural operations throughout South Africa during the State of Emergency from 1983 to 1989.
  • Active support participation throughout South Africa during the State of Emergency from 1983 to 1989.
  • Security Force services rendered during the period 1989 to 1994 up to including the elections period.
  • Security Force services rendered during the period 1961 to 1983 and not being specifically deployed in a designated operational area.

Clause 7
SOUTH AFRICAN CIVIL SERVICE

  • Active participation and work in designated Essential Service departments to ensure operational readiness of the Security Forces during the period 1966 to 1989 (i.e. Armscor, Atlas Aviation, etc).

Clause 8
SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL DEFENCE FORCE:

  • Members who since 1994 have been deployed on campaigns in support of African Union-, SADC- and United Nations operations throughout the African continent.

Clause 9
ALLIED and NATO FORCES:

  • Operation Desert Storm (1990 –1991)
  • Balkans Conflict (1991 – 2001)
  • Afghanistan (2001 – 2021)
  • Iraq (2003 – 2013)
  • Personnel who currently serve or have served in recent operations conducted by NATO internationally.

Medals for the South African Vets from 1975 confirming operational duty