TracesOfWar needs your help! Every euro, pound or dollar you contribute greatly supports the continuation of this website. Go to stiwot.nl and donate!

Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)

The Conspicious Service Cross was instituted in 1901 by King Edward to "recognize meritorious or distinguished services before the enemy" and could be confered to -acting- warrant officers or subordinate officers of His Majesty's Fleet. Persons could not be nominated unless they had been mentioned in despatches; recipients could add the letters CSC to their names.
In October 1941, the name of the decoration was amended to Distinguished Service Cross and conferment was extended to all Naval and Marine officers below the relative rank of Lieutenant-Commander. The letters behind the recipient's names altered to DSC.
The London Gazette of December 23rd, 1939, announced the King's approval that Commanders and Lieutenant-Commanders of the Royal Navy and officers of equivalent rank also be eligible for the DSC. In 1940, Army and RAF officers serving aboard Merchant Navy vessels also became eligible.
Bars could be awarded for subsequent acts of meritorious service.
The silver coloured award, which has a height of 1.75" and a maximum width of 1.37" has the shape of a cross and depicts the Royal Cypher ‘GRI’ on the obverse, surmounted by a crown. The reverse of the award is plain apart from the hallmark, with the year of the award engraved on the lower arm. The ribbon is 1.37" wide and consists of three equal vertical stripes, navy blue, white and navy blue. The bar for subseqeunt acts, made of silver with a crown in the centre, is worn on the ribbon
During WW2, 199 DSC's were awarded to Canadians with 34 first and 5 second bars; since 1945 fewer than 100 DSC’s have been awarded.
The DSC is the only purely Naval decoration and as such was awarded to the town of Dunkirk for the gallant behaviour of its inhabitants during WW 1.

Balfry, Charles Patrick* 1906
† August 1992

Grid List
Jeffreys, Robin Edward* December 15th, 1890
† November 24th, 1963

more
Jenks, Robert Fergus* July 12th, 1909
† February 25th, 1982

Jennings, Richard Borthwick* February 11th, 1903
† August 16th, 2001

Johansen, Einar* August 15th, 1915
† October 16th, 1996

Jong, de, Petrus Jozef Sietze "Pieter"* April 3rd, 1915
† July 27th, 2016

more
Joyce, Harold Owen* June 2nd, 1888
† October 9th, 1963

Juniper, William Anthony* December 7th, 1909

Sources