D.S.O (Distinguished Service Order)

The Distinguished Service Order, instituted in 1886, is awarded to officers in the Royal New Zealand Navy, New Zealand Army and the Royal New Zealand Air Force below field rank for acts of gallantry, and to senior officers for gallantry or distinguished service in a theatre of war. The first award to a New Zealander was made during the Boer War in 1900.

Subsequent acts may be recognised by the awarding of a bar to the Order. During the First World War it was issued unnamed, with 141 being issued, 8 with a First Bar.

Search for D.S.O or Bar to D.S.O in the online database to find all Distinguished Service Order records.

The figures above have been taken with permission from Orders, Decorations and Medals awarded to New Zealanders by Geoff Oldham & Brett Delahunt.