New Zealand mountaineer. In 1953, with Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay (19141986), he reached the summit of Mount Everest, becoming the first to climb the world's highest peak. As a member of the Commonwealth Transantarctic Expedition 195758, he was the first person since R F Scott to reach the South Pole overland, on 3 January 1958. He was knighted in 1953.
The yellow of the emblem is said to denote Angola's natural wealth. Red is said to stand for the blood spilt by the freedom fighters. Black represents Africa. Effective date: 11 November 1975.