The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) was instituted by Queen
Victoria in 1886. It was awarded to officers for meritorious or
distinguished service in war. At the time of the Boer War it was given to
officers with senior command responsibilities, typically upwards of Major,
however it was bestowed upon junior officers, usually in cases of conspicuous
valour. Prior to 1943, the order could be given only to someone who
had already been Mentioned in Despatches. The reverse bears the reigning
monarch's cypher: VRI for Victoria is seen on DSO issued from 1886 to 1902 and
Edward VIII's cypher until 1910. All Boer War DSOs should bear the VRI
cypher.
There were approximately 1,100 awards of the DSO for the Boer
War.
Click here for a details of
Boer War recipients. Click here to view
DSOs awarded by Regiment (52KB). Click here for
details of pre-Boer War
recipients ie 1886 - 1903. Click here for
Edward VIII recipients ie 1903 -
1909.
Thanks to Fusilier Militaria for the
picture of the Edward VII DSO.
