DSO

E84990

DSO is a British military decoration awarded to officers for distinguished service in combat, typically in leadership roles.

Aliases (1)
  • Distinguished Service Order ×48

Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf military decoration
order (decoration)
associatedWith British Army
Royal Air Force
Royal Navy
awardedFor distinguished leadership during combat operations
awardFor distinguished services during active operations against the enemy
awardingAuthority Monarch of the United Kingdom
UK Ministry of Defence
campaignUsage First World War
Second Boer War
Second World War
post-1945 conflicts involving UK forces
canBeAwardedMultipleTimes yes
combatRequirement yes
conflictTypeRecognised active operations against the enemy
country United Kingdom
dateEstablished 1886
decorationClass single-class order
eligibility Commonwealth forces (historically)
allied foreign officers (in some cases)
officers of the armed forces
establishedBy Queen Victoria
fieldOfRecognition military service
geographicScope United Kingdom and former British Empire / Commonwealth
hasAbbreviation DSO
hasComponent insignia (badge)
ribbon
hasDesignFeature central red enamel medallion with royal cypher
white enamel cross pattée
higherAward Conspicuous Gallantry Cross
Victoria Cross
language English
lowerAward Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom)
Military Cross
multipleAwardsIndicatedBy bars to the DSO
notTypicallyAwardedFor acts of gallantry not involving command
postNominalLetters DSO
ribbonColour red with narrow blue edges
shortName DSO
status currently awarded
typicalRankOfRecipient major or equivalent and above
typicalRecipient military officers
typicalRoleRecognised leadership in combat
usedBy British Armed Forces
Commonwealth armed forces (historically)
wearingLocation suspended from the neck or on the left chest depending on regulations


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