Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Description

The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a prestigious military decoration awarded by the United Kingdom and certain Commonwealth countries. Instituted in 1886, this medal recognizes exceptional leadership, gallantry, and meritorious service by commissioned officers in the field of battle or in command positions.

Eligibility for the Distinguished Service Order requires the following:

Display of outstanding leadership, gallantry, and meritorious service in military operations.
Performance of acts of exceptional courage, initiative, and skill that significantly impact the success of missions or operations.

The medal, 36 millimeters in diameter, is made of silver gilt. The obverse side features the reigning monarch's effigy, denoting the monarch's reign at the time of the award. The reverse side carries the inscription 'FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE' within a laurel wreath.

The accompanying ribbon, 32 millimeters wide, consists of alternating stripes of deep crimson and white. These colors represent bravery and purity, symbolizing the exceptional qualities demonstrated by the recipients of the medal.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Medal history and eligibility Read the full guide to the Distinguished Service Order (DSO): its history, who is eligible, and where it sits in the order of wear.

Distinguished Service Order (DSO): mounting options explained

Every replica medal can be supplied loose or mounted ready to wear. Here's how the options differ, so you can choose the right one.

Court mounted Required for serving ADF members

The medals are fixed to a stiff backing board so they sit flat and stay in line while worn. It's the neatest presentation, and serving members of the Australian Defence Force are required to wear their medals court mounted.

Swing mounted Traditional style

Each medal hangs freely from its ribbon below a top bar. This was the usual style from the Boer War through to World War II, and there are no fixed rules about who can wear it.

Ribbon bar For everyday uniform wear

Just the ribbons, mounted in order of precedence on a small bar. Ribbon bars are worn on uniform day to day, when full medals would be impractical.

Unmounted Medal and ribbon supplied separately

The medal and ribbon come as separate parts, ready for you or your mounter to assemble. Full size medals come with 30cm of ribbon and miniatures with 15cm.

Full size or miniature?

Miniatures are mounted the same way at a smaller scale. They're worn at evening and formal events, generally anything after 6pm such as dinners, where full size medals would be impractical.

Pin or magnetic?

Every style comes with a traditional pin or a magnetic fitting. Magnetic mounts hold firmly without putting holes in your jacket or uniform, and are easier to put on and take off, which helps anyone with limited dexterity.