Distinguished Service Order awarded to Lieutenant Colonel Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart VC, 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards, 1915

Silver-gilt alisee cross enamelled in white with gold edges, with a central roundel in red enamel with a gold royal cypher, surrounded by a gold and green enamelled wreath. The medal hangs from a gilt ring and suspension bar with laurel leaves and the red and blue ribbon is fixed with a second bar.

Born in Brussels, Belgium, de Wiart enlisted in the 4th Dragoon Guards during the Boer War (1899-1902), seeing much action and being wounded in the stomach and groin. During World War One (1914-1918), attached to the Somaliland Camel Constabulary, he fought in Somaliland where he was again wounded, losing an eye and part of his ear. He was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Order. A record of the award appears in the 'London Gazette' of 15 May 1915, 'For distinguished service in the field in connection with the operations against Dervish Forces at Shimber Berris, Somaliland, during the months of November 1914 and February 1915'.

Transferring to the Western Front in 1915, de Wiart lost a hand and was shot in the hip and ankle. In July 1916 he was commanding a battalion of the Gloucester Regiment at La Boiselle on the Somme when he won the Victoria Cross.

The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a British military decoration, given to recognise meritorious and distinguished service by officers. It was instituted in the reign of Queen Victoria in 1886. From 1993 the award was open to all ranks.

From a medal group awarded to Lieutenant Colonel Sir Adrian Carton de Wiart, KBE, CB, CMG, DSO, VC, 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards and Army Staff.