Distinguished Service Order awarded to Colonel C B Stokes, 3rd Skinner's Horse, 1919

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.

Colonel Claude Bayfield Stokes (1875-1948) was an Indian army officer and diplomat. He served in India and was an intelligence officer with Dunsterforce during World War One (1914-1918). He commanded the first detachment of the British Army to go to Baku, arriving on 4 August 1918. Stokes was appointed High Commissioner in Transcaucasia from 1920 to 1921.

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 collection of orders and medals awarded to Colonel C B Stokes, 3rd Skinner's Horse, 1895-1937 (c).