A very good example of an award of the Distinguished Service Cross, D.S.C., reverse bearing hallmarks for 1918, as awarded during the Great War. Fitted with investiture pin, and housed in its fitted and titled presentation case by Garrard & Co. Some 1,983 individual awards of the Distinguished Service Cross were made during the Great War.
Distinguished Service Cross, GVR GRI cypher, reverse bearing hallmarks for London with date letter ‘c’ for 1918. Fitted with investiture pin, and housed in its fitted and titled presentation case by Garrard & Co.
Condition: Good Very Fine.
The Distinguished Service Cross, D.S.C., was originally created in 1901 as the Conspicuous Service Cross, for award to warrant and subordinate officers, including midshipmen, ineligible for the Distinguished Service Order. It was renamed the Distinguished Service Cross in October 1914, eligibility being extended to all naval officers (commissioned and warrant) below the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
From March 1915, foreign officers of equivalent rank in allied navies could receive honorary awards; in August 1916, bars were introduced to reward further acts of gallantry meriting the Cross, with a silver rosette worn on the ribbon when worn alone, to denote the award of each bar. During the Great War officers of the Merchant and Fishing Fleets had been awarded the DSC, and their eligibility was legally clarified by an order in council in 1931.
In all some 1,983 awards of the Distinguished Service Cross were made during the Great War, with 91 second award bars, and 10 third award bars. Some 151 awards were made to members of allied foreign forces during the war.
