The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) was instituted by Royal Warrant on 6 September 1886. The award is generally not given to officers below the rank of Captain.
Some time after the Indian Mutiny it was realized that no adequate means existed of recognizing the services of junior officers. The Victoria Cross was reserved for outstanding gallantry and the CB could only normally be awarded to officers the rank of Major and above so a new award was needed.
In terms of gallantry awards, The DSO ranks below the Victoria Cross and above the Military Cross, in order of precedence. It is almost always awarded for gallantry in action. There were 8,981 awards for the First World War.
The DSO was available to officers of all the armed services, and in September 1942 the regulations allowed it to be awarded to officers of the Merchant Navy for acts of gallantry in the presence of the enemy. Foreign Officers were eligible as honourary recipients the order.
Very early awards are of gold and enamel, but the order has been made of silver gilt since 1889.
The metal is overlaid with white enamel, the obverse showing a green enamel laurel wreath encircling an imperial crown. The reverse shows the Royal cipher, changing with each reign, within a similar wreath. The cross is suspended by a swivel ring from a straight suspender decorated with laurel leaves.
The ribbon, 29mm wide, is crimson with dark blue edges, and is surmounted by a top clasp similar to the suspension bar. When the DSO is mounted together with other medals this clasp is often removed and sewn back at the top of the ribbon.
The DSO has always been issued unnamed, but since 1938 (George VI) the year of issue has been engraved on the rear of the lower suspension bar.
In 1993, changes to the gallantry awards system meant that the DSO can now be awarded to all ranks, but only for 'leadership'. It has been replaced as an award for gallantry by the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC), first awarded in 1995.
| Surname | Forename/s | Rank | Gazette | Medal No. | Engagement |
| Hickman | Thomas Edgecumbe | Captain | 08/11/1889 | 139 | Toski |
| Surname | Forename/s | Rank | Gazette | Battalion | Engagement |
| Bartholomew | Hugh John | Captain | 27/09/1901 | 2nd | South Africa |
| Bennett | Charles Hugh | Captain | 19/04/1901 | Staff | South Africa |
| Dillon | Constantine Theobald Francis | Captain | 26/06/1902 | M.I. | South Africa |
| Gibb | John Hassard Stewart | Major | 27/09/1901 | 1st | South Africa |
| Green | Arthur Dowson | Captain | 19/04/1901 | M.I. | South Africa |
| Hovell | Hugh de Berdt | Major | 27/09/1901 | 2nd | South Africa |
| Wodehouse | Ernest Charles Forbes | Captain | 27/09/1901 | 2nd | South Africa |
| Richards | Bernard Ogilvie | Captain | 27/09/1901 | M.I. | South Africa |
| Boyd-Moss | Ernest William | Lieut. (now Captain) | 27/09/1901 | AS Corps | South Africa |
| Surname | Forename/s | Rank | Gazette | Battalion | Engagement |
| Breading | George Remington | Captain | 06/09/1904 | Att. W.A.F. | Somaliland |
| Name | Forename/s | Rank |
Gazette |
Battalion |
Engagement |
| Adam | William | A/Lt.
Col. |
03/06/1918 |
17th |
Italy (general) |
| Arden | John Henry Morris | Capt. |
28/04/1915 |
1st |
Neuve Chapelle |
| Armitage | Charles Leathley | Bt.
Maj. |
24/07/1915 |
att. 2nd |
Festubert |
| Badham | John Frederick | Bt. Lt.
Col. |
27/07/1918 |
(W.A.F.F.) |
East Africa |
| Bate | John Percival | A/Maj. |
01/01/1919 |
1/8th |
Italy 1918 (general) |
| " - bar | A/Maj. |
02/04/1919 |
1/8th |
Selle | |
| Bomford | Leslie Raymond | A/Capt. |
02/04/1919 |
1/8th |
Sambre |
| Boswell | Harold Edward | T/2nd Lt. |
08/03/1919 |
2nd |
Selle |
| Bowen | William Allan | A/Lt.
Col. |
03/06/1918 |
Comdg. 1/4th
K.S.L.I. |
Somme 1918 |
| " - bar | A/Lt.
Col. |
01/01/1919 |
Comdg.1/4th
K.S.L.I. |
Aisne 1918 | |
| Bowring | Edward Langley | Capt. |
18/02/1915 |
2nd |
Gheluvelt |
| Bridges | John Victor | T/Maj. |
18/07/1917 |
(Att. N. Fus.) |
? |
| Briscoe | George Seton | T/Maj. |
26/09/1916 |
3rd |
Thiepval |
| Carr | Henry Arbuthnot | Maj. |
02/05/1916 |
4th |
Krithia |
| Clarke | Bowcher Campbell Senhouse | T/Lt.
Col. |
04/06/1917 |
(Staff) |
Somme 1916 |
| " - bar | T/Lt.
Col. |
16/09/1918 |
4th |
Lys 1918 | |
| Clarke | Sir Edward Henry St. Lawrence Bt. | Lt.
Col. |
01/01/1917 |
Comdg. 21st W.
Yorks |
? |
| Clarke | Hubert Thomas | A/Lt.
Col. |
08/03/1919 |
1/8th |
Beaurevoir, &c. |
| " - bar | A/Lt.
Col. |
02/04/1919 |
1/8th |
Sambre | |
| Cooper | Arkwright Richard | T/Capt. |
26/07/1917 |
11th |
Doiran 1917 |
| Crawshay | Henry | Maj. |
03/06/1918 |
(Staff) |
? |
| Davidge | Guy Mortimer Coleridge | A/Lt.
Col. |
26/09/1917 |
1st |
Ypres 1917 |
| " - bar | A/Lt.
Col. |
24/09/1918 |
1st |
Aisne 1918 | |
| Davies | Hugh Warburton | Capt. |
30/01/1920 |
2/8th |
St. Quentin |
| Davies-Evans | Deline William Campbell | A/Lt.
Col. |
03/06/1919 |
2/8th |
Selle, &c. |
| Dippie | Herbert | A/Maj. |
03/06/1918 |
11th |
Macedonia (general) |
| Dore | Alan Sidney Whitehorn | Maj. |
01/01/1918 |
Att. R.F.C. |
? |
| Dorman | Leslie Claud | T/Lt.
Col. |
04/06/1917 |
2/7th |
Vermand |
| Dugan | Winston Joseph | Capt. |
23/06/1915 |
(Staff) |
France 1915 (general) |
| Dunlop | Frank Passy | T/Lt.
Col. |
01/01/1917 |
Comdg. 20th
Midd'x. |
Somme 1916 |
| Faviell | William Frederick Oliver | T/Lt.
Col. |
25/08/1917 |
9th |
Kut 1917, &c. |
| FitzJohn | Tudor |
T/Lt. Col. |
01/01/1917 |
? |
France 1916 (general) |
| " - bar | A/Lt.
Col. |
15/02/1919 |
4th |
Ypres 1918 | |
| Franklin | William Veasey | Maj. |
03/06/1919 |
1st |
Douai, &c. |
| Fulton | Herbert Albrecht | T/Lt.
Col. |
04/06/1917 |
(Staff) |
? |
| Gascoigne | Cecil Claud Hugh Orby | T/Lt.
Col. |
01/01/1918 |
14th |
Ypres 1917 |
| Gibbon | William Duff | A/Lt.
Col. |
17/03/1917 |
9th |
Kut 1917 |
| Gogarty | Henry Edward | Lt.
Col. |
26/11/1917 |
2nd |
Ypres 1917 |
| Gordon | William Alexander | Maj. |
02/02/1916 |
Att. R.
Warwick |
? |
| Grogan | George William St. George | T/Lt.
Col. |
11/05/1917 |
1st |
Bouchavesnes |
| " - bar | T/Brig-Gen. |
26/07/1918 |
23rd
Brigade |
Somme 1918 | |
| Hankey | Edward Barnard | Bt. Lt.-Col. |
01/01/1918 |
Att. Tank
Corps |
Ypres 1917 |
| Harman | Alexander Ramsey | Lt.
Col. |
20/10/1916 |
1/7th |
Ovillers |
| Heselton | John Lister | A/Lt.
Col. |
26/11/1917 |
Comdg. 9th
Manchester |
France 1917 (general) |
| Hill | John Charles Holden | T/Lieut. |
26/09/1916 |
1/7th |
Ovillers 21/8/16 |
| Holcroft | Cyril Walter | A/Capt. |
04/02/1918 |
2/8th |
Cambrai 1917 |
| Jefferies | Hugh St. John | A/Lt.
Col. |
26/09/1917 |
Comdg. 1st W.
Yorks |
Ypres 1917 |
| Johnston | Alexander Colin | T/Lt.
Col. |
04/06/1917 |
(Comdg. 10th Cheshire) |
Somme 1916 |
| " - bar | T/Lt.
Col. |
01/01/1918 |
Comdg. 10th
Cheshire |
Ypres 1917 | |
| Kerans | Edward Thomas John | T/Lt.
Col. |
04/06/1917 |
4th |
Arras 1917 |
| Kitching | Charles H. | T/Lt.
Col. |
04/06/1917 |
Comdg. 18th
K.R.R.C. |
France 1917 (general) |
| Lawrence | Edward Lafone Graham | Bt.
Maj. |
03/06/1919 |
(Staff) |
Italy (general) |
| Leggett | Robert Anthony Cleghorn | T/
Col. |
01/01/1917 |
(Staff) |
France 1916 (general) |
| Leman | John Frederick | T/Lt.
Col. |
02/04/1919 |
Comdg. 13th
R.W.Fus. |
Sambre |
| Linton | Charles Strangway | Maj. |
26/06/1916 |
(Staff) |
France 1915 (general) |
| " - bar | A/Lt.
Col. |
26/11/1917 |
4th |
Ypres 1917 | |
| Maben | Herbert Carteighe | T/Capt. |
26/07/1918 |
14th |
Somme 1918 |
| Marryatt | Richard Herbert | Maj. |
03/06/1919 |
4th |
Courtrai |
| McCombie | Hamilton | T/Capt. |
01/01/1918 |
(Staff) |
France 1917 (general) |
| Mould | James | Lieut. |
25/08/1916 |
3rd |
Ovillers 15-17/7/16 |
| Myles | Edgar Kinghorn | 2nd/Lieut. |
17/03/1917 |
9th |
Kut 1917 |
| Pardoe | Thomas Kenyon | Maj. |
01/01/1918 |
2nd |
Arras 1917 |
| Roberts | Frank Crowther | Lieut. |
18/02/1915 |
1st |
Raid 3/1/15 |
| Rose | Richard Aubrey de Burgh | T/Lt.
Col. |
14/01/1916 |
(W.A.F.F.) |
W. Africa |
| " - bar | Bt. Lt.
Col. |
21/07/1918 |
(W.A.F.F.) |
E. Africa | |
| Sladden | Cyril Edgar | T/Maj. |
08/03/1919 |
9th |
Baku |
| Sole | Denis Mavisyn Anslow | Maj. |
01/01/1917 |
10th |
Somme 1916 |
| " - bar | T/Lt.
Col. |
01/01/1919 |
10th |
Aisne 1918 | |
| Stephenson -Fetherstonhaugh |
Alexander John | Maj. |
01/01/1919 |
(Staff) |
France 1918 (general) |
| Stevens | Leighton Marlow | T/Lt.
Col. |
01/01/1917 |
Comdg.23rd
Manch.R. |
France 1916 (general) |
| Stoney | Gerald Johnston Lipyeatt | A/Lt.
Col. |
16/09/1918 |
2nd |
Neuve Eglise |
| Temple | Richard Durand | T/Lt.
Col. |
01/01/1918 |
Comdg. 24th North'd
Fus. |
France 1917 (general) |
| Tomkinson | Francis Martin | Maj. |
01/01/1917 |
1/7th |
Ovillers |
| " - bar | T/Lt.
Col. |
18/07/1917 |
1/7th |
Gillemont Farm | |
| Traill | Robert Francis | Maj. |
16/09/1918 |
3rd |
Lys 1918 |
| Tyrwhitt | Frederick St. John | Maj. |
14/01/1916 |
(Staff) |
France1915(general) |
| Umfreville | Ralph Brunton | T/Lt.
Col. |
25/08/1917 |
Comdg. 8th
Glosters. |
? |
| Vaughan | P. E. | T/Lt.
Col. |
22/07/1916 |
Comdg. 8th Green
Howards |
Contalinaison |
| Watson | T. H. | A/Lt.
Col. |
03/06/1918 |
Comdg. 1st
Foresters |
Somme 1918 |
| Whalley | Percy Roger | A/Lt.
Col. |
26/09/1917 |
3rd |
Ypres 1917 |
| Whitty | Allen | Maj. & Qmr. |
14/01/1916 |
3rd |
France 1914-15 (general) |
| Winnington | John Francis Sartorius | Maj. |
28/04/1915 |
1st |
Neuve Chapelle |
| Wood | Henry George Westmorland | Capt. |
24/09/1918 |
1/7th |
Piavè |
Worcestershire Regiment men who were awarded the DSO in World War 2
| Name | Forename/s | Rank |
Gazette |
Battalion |
Engagement |
| Churchill | William Oliver | Capt. |
15/03/1945 |
seconded |
Mediterranean (Italy) |
| Graves-Morris | Philip Herbert | Maj. |
26/04/1945 |
att. |
Burma |
| Hall | Peter Geoffrey | Maj. |
21/06/1945 |
1st |
Ahlhorn 15/4/1945 |
| Hope-Thomson | Maxwell Richard Julian | A/Lt.
Col. |
24/01/1946 |
1st |
N.W. Europe (general) |
| Hughes | Thomas Frederick | Maj. |
03/05/1945 |
1st |
Operation Veritable |
| Knight | John Oldham | Lt.
Col. |
13/08/1942 |
1st |
Middle East |
| Nott | Donald Harley | Maj. |
30/12/1941 |
1st |
Middle East |
| Osborne-Smith | Robert Edward | A/Lt.
Col. |
29/03/1945 |
1st |
N.W. Europe (general) |
| Ricketts | Jack Dillon | Maj. |
05/04/1945 |
1st |
Tripsrath 18/11/1944 |
| Symes | Bryant Gustavus |
T/Lt. Col. |
06/06/1946 |
2nd |
Burma |
| Wilsey | John Harold Owen | T/Lt.
Col. |
29/03/1945 |
att. |
N.W. Europe (general) |
Note:
Capatin W O Churchill was seconded to Special Operations Executive (1944/45 Operation Floodlight [Italy]: political and military liaison mission consisting of WS/Captain W. O. Churchill, to act as British Liaison Officer to General Cadorna at the request of the CLNAI in northern Italy.)
T/Lieut.-Colonel P. H. Graves-Morris was attached to 2nd Battalion The York and Lancaster Regiment.
A/Lieut.-Colonel M. R. J. Hope Thomson (Royal Scots Fusiliers) was attached to the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment.
A/Lieut.-Colonel R. E. Osborne-Smith (Northamptonshire Regiment) was attached to the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment.
T/Lieut.-Colonel B. G. Symes (Dorset Regiment) attached to the 2nd Battalion (Nov. 1943 to Oct. 1945)
T/Lieut.-Colonel J. H. O. Wilsey was attached to the 7th Battalion Duke of Wellington Regiment.