The Distinguished Service Cross

Instituted in June 1901 as an award for warrant officers and subordinate officers of the Royal Navy who had distinguished themselves on active service at sea, the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) began life as the Conspicuous Service Cross but was renamed in October 1914 when eligibilty was widened to include all officers below the rank of lieutenant commander. Almost 2,000 were issued […]

Continue reading

The Distinguished Flying Cross

The Distinguished Flying Cross was instituted by Royal Warrant on 3 June 1918 and was awarded to officers and warrant officers of the Royal Air Force and other services for ‘an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty performed whilst flying in active operations against the enemy’. Just over 1,100 DFCs were awarded during the […]

Continue reading

The Military Cross

The Military Cross was instituted by King George V on 28 December 1914 and was awarded to junior army officers – those holding the rank of captain and below – and warrant officers of the British and Dominion forces for gallantry in the field. More than 37,000 were issued during the First World war, with four […]

Continue reading