The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military award of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly throughout the Commonwealth, awarded for operational gallantry for highly successful command and leadership during active operations, typically in actual combat.
Bar for additional DSO awardMajor Paul Garneau, of the Royal 22 Régiment, with the DSO he received for "gallant and distinguished services in the combined attack on Dieppe" after his investiture at Buckingham Palace in October 1942
The order was established to recognise individual instances of meritorious or distinguished service in war. It is a military order, and was, until recently, typically awarded to officers in command above the rank of major (or equivalent), with awards to lower ranks usually being for a high degree of gallantry, just short of deserving the Victoria Cross.[10]
Whilst normally given for service under fire or under conditions equivalent to service in actual combat with the enemy, a number of awards made between 1914 and 1916 were under circumstances not under fire, often to staff officers, causing resentment among front-line officers. After 1 January 1917, commanders in the field were instructed to recommend this award only for those serving under fire.[11]
From 1916, bars could be authorised for subsequent award of the DSO, worn on the ribbon of the original award.[11]
In 1942, the award was extended to officers of the Merchant Navy who had performed acts of gallantry whilst under enemy attack.[12]
Prior to 1943, the DSO could be awarded to only commissioned officers of the Lieutenant-Colonel rank and above, for 'meritorious or distinguished service in wartime' under conditions of actual combat. If awarded to an officer ranking below Lieutenant-Colonel, it had to be a case of 'a high degree of gallantry just short of deserving the Victoria Cross'. In either case, being 'Mentioned in Despatches' was a pre-condition for appointment to the Distinguished Service Order.[13]
The stipulation that only those mentioned in despatches could be appointed to the Order was removed in 1943.[11]
Modern era
Since 1993, reflecting the review of the British honours system which recommended removing distinctions of rank in respect of operational awards, the DSO has been open to all ranks, with the award criteria redefined as "highly successful command and leadership during active operations".[6] At the same time, the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross was introduced as the second-highest award for gallantry.[14] Despite some very fierce campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, the DSO has yet to be awarded to a non-commissioned rank.[15]
The DSO was previously awarded throughout the Commonwealth but by the 1990s most, including Canada, Australia and New Zealand, were had established their own honours systems no longer recommending British honours.[16]
Nomenclature
Recipients of the Order, formally styled Companions of the Distinguished Service Order, are entitled to use DSO as post-nominal letters. All awards are announced in The London Gazette.[17]
In the centre of the obverse, within a green enamelled laurel wreath, is the Imperial Crown in gold upon a red enamelled background. The reverse has the Royal Cypher of the reigning monarch in gold within a similar wreath and background.[17]
A ring at the top of the decoration attaches to a ring at the bottom of a gilt suspension bar, ornamented with laurel. Since 1938 the year of award engraved on the back of the suspension bar.[17] At the top of the ribbon is a second gilt bar ornamented with laurel.[10]
The decorations are issued unnamed but some recipients have had their names engraved on the reverse of the suspension bar.[10]
The red ribbon is 1.125in (2.86cm) wide with narrow blue edges.[14]
The Bar for an additional award is plain gold with an Imperial Crown in the centre. Since about 1938, the year of the award has been engraved on the back of the Bar.[17] A rosette is worn on the ribbon in undress uniform to signify the award of each Bar.[18]
Recipients
Numbers awarded
From 1918 to 2017, the Distinguished Service Order was awarded approximately 16,935 times, in addition to 1,910 bars. The figures to 1979 are laid out in the table below,[19] the dates reflecting the relevant entries in the London Gazette:
Period
Crosses
1st bar
2nd bar
3rd bar
Pre-First World War
1886–1913
1,732
–
–
–
First World War
1914–1919
9,881
768
76
7
Inter-war
1919–1939
148
16
–
–
Second World War
1939–1946
4,880
947
59
8
Post-1945
1947–1979
204
20
5
1
Total
1886–1979
16,845
1,751
140
16
In addition, approximately 90 DSOs were awarded between 1980 and 2017, including awards for the Falklands, Gulf, Iraq and AfghanistanWars, in addition to three Bars.[20] The above figures include awards to the Commonwealth.
In all, 1,220 DSOs were awarded to Canadians, plus 119 first bars and 20 second Bars.[10]
From 1901 to 1972, when the last Australian to receive the DSO was announced, 1,018 awards were made to Australians, plus 70 first Bars and one second Bar.[21]
The DSO was awarded to over 300 New Zealanders during the two World Wars.[12]
Sir Bernard Freyberg, also awarded the Victoria Cross, was decorated DSO three times during the First World War, and a fourth during the Second World War
Arnold Jackson, First World War British Army officer and 1500 metre Olympic gold medal winner in 1912
Sir Douglas Kendrew, brigade commander in Italy, Greece and the Middle East between 1944 and 1946. Subsequently, appointed Governor of Western Australia
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