Instituted in 1886 for
“Acts of Gallantry by Military Officers for which a
Victoria Cross was not considered appropriate”.
During 1914 to 1916 some were awarded in conditions
that could not be considered under fire.
Many were awarded to Squadron Commanders for a long
period of leadership, but in some cases, it was awarded to
a Junior Officer for one operation.
Prior to 1943, the award could only be awarded to someone
who had been Mentioned in Dispatches”.
In 1942 the regulations were amended to allow the award
to be made to officers of the Merchant Navy for gallantry
in the presence of the enemy.
Total issued up to 1983
1291 plus 113 First Bars and 18 Second Bars
Over 300 DSO’s were awarded to New Zealanders
during both World Wars.
Description
The Cross is of gold, enamelled white, with gold edges.
Having on one side, in the centre,
within a wreath of Laurel enamelled green,
The Imperial Crown in Gold.
On the Reverse, within a similar wreath,
and upon a similar ground,
The Royal Cypher.
It hangs from its ribbon by a gold clasp
ornamented with Laurel.
While a similar clasp is worn at the top
of the ribbon.
The ribbon is 32mm wide
Membership is only open to commissioned officers
or their equivalents
A S/L, A P Gainsford, NZ 402863
DSO, DFC, AFC,
20 November 1913 to 27 May 1974
Enlisted in the RNZAF on September 1940
He was a F/O on No 166 Squadron.
Served on No 150 Squadron
'C' Flight Commander on No 550 Squadron 9th September 1944
to 7th November 1944
Promoted to CO No 550 Squadron
After the war he was at Hobsonville from 1945 to 1947
Was in J Force in Japan 1948
Appointed to Air Staff 1949 to 50
CO Woodbourne 1957 to 60
Director of Training in 1960
Retired in May 1967
DFC
S/L, DSO on 23 March 1945 on No 150 Squadron
For Skills and Leadership in sorties over Germany
AFC in September 1944
OBE
S/L, J A A Gibson,
DSO
24 August 1916 to July 2000
Began training in RAF 7th April 1937, he went to
No 3 Flying Training School in South Cerney.
On 20th May 1940 he was posted to 501 Squadron
in France, flying Hurricanes.
His first claim was a He111 on 21st May 1940 and
shared a second one on 27th May.
This time he was shot down and had to leave his
aircraft in a field near Rouen.
He returned to the Squadron safely and on the 9th July,
he claimed a Do 111 Damaged, on the 13th a Ju 87 Destroyed
and another Damaged.
He damaged another Ju 87 on the 29th July, and a Do 17
Damaged on the 31st July.
The 12th August was a busy day with a Destroyed Ju 87,
and Damaged another, followed by a Destroyed Me109.
When he landed back at Hawkinge his Hurricane P2986
ran into a bomb crater.
On the 15th August, he claimed a Ju 87destroyed and another
Ju 87 Damaged.
His Hurricane P3582 was set alight in this action and he
bailed out at 1,000 feet near Folkstone.
On the 24th he claimed a Destroyed Ju 87 and
was appointed 'A' Flight Commander.
Promoted to Acting F/L on the 25th August 1940.
On the 28th he Damaged a Me 109 and on the 29th
August he Destroyed another Me 109, this one set
him on fire again and he was forced to bail out 2 miles
from shore.
He was picked up by launch that afternoon.
He damaged a Do 17 on 2nd September and
destroyed a Me109 on the 6th September, followed
by a Damaged Me 109 on the 7th.
His last sortie with 591 Squadron was on 23rd
September 1940.
He was admitted to Princess Mary’s RAF Hospital
at Halton.
Posted as an Instructor to 53 Operational Training
Unit at Heston on 28th May 1941.
In early January 1942, he went to No 457 RAAF Squadron
at Jurby as a Flight Commander.
At the end of his short-term commission, he returned to
NZ in May and joined the RNZAF on 13th July 1942.
Posted to the newly formed No 15 Squadron RNZAF
and went to Tonga to take over the P 40 Kittyhawks
from the 68th Pursuit Squadron USAAF, these were
eventually made serviceable.
He returned to NZ in Mid December 1942 to a Staff Job
at Air HQ Control Group.
In May 1943 he did a Staff Course at the Army Staff
College in Palmerston North.
On the 15th December, he was posted back to No 15
Squadron, this time as CO, and took the Squadron to
Guadalcanal and the heavy fighting of the Bougainville
Landings.
On the 23rd January, he destroyed a Zeke [Zero] fighter.
The Squadron returned to NZ for a rest on 11th February
1944 and returned to Guadalcanal in May 1944, then
advancing to Bougainville in June 1944.
The Squadron returned to NZ in late July and Gibson was
posted back to the UK, he left NZ on 31st October 1944.
Posted to No 80 Squadron flying Tempests from Volkel
from 3rd March to 2nd April 1945, he was involved covering
The Rhine crossing, and was shot down receiving a shoulder
wound.
On 1st December 1945 he ceased his attachment to the RAF
and returned to RNZAF, but on the 24th December, he rejoined
the RAF.
In 1947 he was the pilot of General Montgomery’s personal
Aircraft, and in 1948/49 he was the personal aide and pilot to
the Marshall of the RAF, Lord Tedder.
He retired in 1954 and went to South Africa, and flew for
Chamber of Mines in Johannesburg.
He then mover their forward base at Bechuanaland, operating
9 x DC-3s and 4 x DC-4s as Chief Flying Instructor and Line Captain.
In 1958 he formed Bechuanaland National Airways and was the
General Manager of the Airline.
In 1969/70 he took part in the “Sanction Busting” after UDI in
Rhodesia, flying supplies in and refugee children out of
Biafra during the war there, his co-pilot was his son, Michael.
A F/L DFC on 30th August 1940
S/L, DSO on 17th March 1945
F/O, T F Gill,
OBE, DSO,
31st January 1917 to 1st March 1982
He joined the RNZAF in 1937 and transferred to the
RAF in 1939.
He flew Fairey Battles in France, and Hurricanes in
the Battle of Britain, and later became a Bomber Pilot.
Awarded the DSO while on 75 [NZ] Squadron on
the 23rd September 1941.
He attended the RAF Staff College at Bulstrode Park
and the Joint Services Staff College at Latimer House.
He returned to the RNZAF after the war and served as
NZ Armed Forces Attache in Washington, DC from
1957 to 59, and Senior Air Staff Officer of the Commonwealth
Air Forces in Singapore from 1960 to 62.
Promoted to Air Commodore and posted as Deputy
Chief of Air Staff in 1965 and Air Officer Commanding
Operations Group, Whenuapai from 1965 to 1969.
He moved to politics and won the Waitemata seat from
1969 to 72, the East Coast Bays from 1972 to 1980.
Took up the position of NZ’s Ambassador to the US
from 1981 until 16th February 1982.
Flown home on a Stretcher shortly before his death on
1st March 1982
F/O, DSO on 23 September 1941 on 75 Squadron
AC, OBE in January 1961
S/L, C F Gray,
DSO, DFC, & 2 Bars,
9th November 1914 to 1995
Born as twins, Colin and Ken.
Colin was successful on his third attempt to join the RAF
in 1937, his early training was at Hatfield.
Confirmed rank of P/O in November 1940 and posted to
No 54 Squadron flying Spitfires from Hornchurch.
During the Phoney War, he was employed doing patrols
over the English Channel.
His brother Ken was killed in a flying accident on
1 May 1940.
First combat was on 24th May 1040, when he claimed 2
Probables, followed by a share of a Me 109 on the 25th May
while escorting Fairey Swordfish aircraft, who were dive bombing
Gravelines.
His Spitfire was badly damaged in the engagement and he
managed to force-land back at Hornchurch.
His next claim was a Me 109 near Calais, on the 24th July,
He claimed another Me 109 on the 16th August and 2 Me 109’s
destroyed later in the month.
By early September he had 14 and 1/2 destroyed, before the
Squadron was posted North, to Rest and Recuperate.
Promoted to F/O on 23 October 1940 and F/L in August 1941.
Posted to No 616 Squadron as CO in September 1941 until
February 1942.
Posted to a Staff position at No 9 Group.
Promoted to Acting S/L and CO of No 64 Squadron covering
The English Channel and sweeps into France.
Posted to the Mediterranean Theatre, firstly to No 333 Group, and
In January 1943 as CO No 81 Squadron, based in Algeria.
During this period he shot down a further 8 aircraft to bring his
total to 22 destroyed.
Promoted to Acting W/C on 1 June 1943 and command of No 322
Wing, based at Malta.
During his patrols over the Italian coast, he shot down a further 5
Aircraft to bring his totals to 27 Destroyed, 2 Shared, Destroyed,
6 Probable, with 4 shared probables, the Top NZ Fighter Ace.
He finished the war as W/C of the Lympne Wing, operating
Over France And Netherlands.
Seconded to the RNZAF from July 1945 to March 1946 and
promoted to substantive S/L on !st September 1945.
He returned to England and was promoted to W/C on 1st July 1947
and served in Air Ministry until 1949.
Served on the Joint Services Mission in Washington as Air
Liaison Officer in 1954.
CO Church Fenton from 1955 to 57, with a promotion to G/C
on 1st January 1955.
Posted to HQ Far East Air Force in Singapore until 1959.
He retired in March 1961
P/O DFC on 15 August 1940 on 54 Squadron
F/L Bar to DFC September 1941 on 54 Squadron
A W/C 2nd Bar to DFC in November 1943 No 9 Group.
A S/L, DSO 1 Jun 1943 on 81 Sqn
W/C J F Grey 36816
DSO, DFC,
Joined the RAF in 1936,
Flew with Bomber Command.
On 6th August 1944, while on 207 Squadron, flying Lancasters.
they had been tasked with flying Lancaster LM 972 M for Mother
to a V-1 Site, 30 miles North of Paris, in the Oise Valley at
St-Leu-d-Esserent, in a daylight raid.
This was a complex was built underground in caves that had once
been used for growing Mushrooms.
They were carrying 3 of the 4.000 lb “cookie” bombs and acting as
Lead Bomber on a 208 aircraft raid.
The bombs were released, and the bomb aimer had just reached for
the door control when the aircraft was hit by Flak.
The inner Starboard engine has been blown apart, with considerable
damage to the leading edge of the wing, with smoke and flames pouring
from it.
The Port inner has also been hit, it is still running but there is heavy
smoke pouring from it.
The aircraft, because of the damage was in a wild spin, Grey managed to
correct the spin but the aircraft is now diving.
Fortunately, this extinguishes the flames and the aircraft is brought under
control at less than 2,000 feet after a dive of over 16.000 feet.
Grey and the Engineer, Tommy Young, managed to nurse the aircraft on 2
engines for the 3 1/2 hours flight back to Manston.
On their way over the Channel, they spot 4 men in a dingy and the
wireless operator radioed their position.
They were rescued by MTB’s
On final approach, he told the engineer to assume his crash position
and the engine that he had been nursing stopped leaving Grey with
just the one engine to finish the landing run on.
Retired on 29th November 1957
DFC On 10 occasions his aircraft has been engaged by enemy
fighters, 7 of which were shot down in the ensuing fights,
DSO on 28 November 1944 on No 207 Squadron
S/L, D H Hammond,
DSO, DFC, & Bar,
14th March 1916 to 8 October 1998
Enlisted in RNZAF June 1940
Credited with 8 destroyed aircraft
Flew some of the first Beaufighters to operate over
the Western Desert in 1942
CO 489 [NZ] Squadron Feb 1945 to 1 Aug 1945
DFC on 272 Squadron
W/C, Bar to DFC on 18 September 1944
on 489 [NZ] Squadron flying Beaufighters.
W/C, DSO on 17 November 1944 on 489 [NZ]
Squadron flying Beaufighters.
A S/L, J A Harrison, NZ 404870
DSO, DFC,
28 September 1914 to 12 August 1998
Joined RNZAF on 30th November 1940
Posed from No 1658 Conversion Unit to No 76 Squadron
on 15 May 1944 as a F/L, and 'C' Flight Commander.
Posted from No 76 Squadron to No 12 PDRC on 5 December 1944.
F/L. DFC on 8th March 1943 on No 10 Squadron flying Halifax’s
He was involved in a serious crash and sustained head injuries,
a crushed foot and a broken arm, he dragged his unconscious
wireless operator from the wreckage before collapsing.
He returned to operational duties immediately on discharge
from the hospital, 5 months later, and has completed numerous
sorties since.
S/L DSO on 17 November 1944 on No 76 Squadron, flying Halifax’s
This officer has completed 2 tours of operations during which
he has attacked a wide range of targets
F/L, M R Head, NZ 413414
14 September 1918 to
Joined RNZAF on 15th June 1941
Posted to No 9 Squadron
Involved in a mid-air on 16 Jul 1943 when attacking Reggio,
Italy, the crew was forced to bail out.
Captured and escaped from a train a week later,
he was again captured, but escaped from the train, again.
After some days in the Italian Mountains, he made his way
South to the Allied Lines, but was seen by a German Patrol
and was shot, breaking his Left arm.
Despite this, he reached Allied Lines on 26th November 1943
to No 514 Squadron flying Lancasters
Retired from RNZAF 15th October 1945
Held the University Degrees of BE, BSc, BA, PhD,
Was employed by Defence Scientific Corps, seconded to the
Ministry of Supply in England, on advanced Aeronautical
Research.
On retirement, he became a Lecturer at Cambridge University.
F/L DSO, on 25 April 1944 on No 9 Sqn flying Lancasters,
for skill, courage and fortitude of the highest order
F/L DFC 8 December 1944 on No 514 Squadron flying
Lancasters, for being twice attacked by night fighters
and managing to destroy them without damage his
aircraft
MID 2 June 1943
S/L, J A Hegman,
DSO, DFC
23 June 1916 to 15 February 1944
Joined RNZAF on March 1941
While as a F/O, on No 162 Squadron flying Wellingtons
in the Desert, he was tasked with special flights to discover
the strength and coverage of enemy radar and radio
systems.
This included a 12-night stay at Malta flying 8 missions
over Sicily and Italy.
Sir Keith Park said that 162 Squadron had done a first
rate job and now they can route our aircraft to achieve
maximum surprise and minimum danger of interception.
Killed on Air Operations on 15 February 1944
DFC,
DSO on 29th Feb 44 on No 7 Sqn
A S/L, H W B Henry, 39918
Posted to 582 Squadron, a Lancaster flying Pathfinder
Squadron.
His last flight took off from Little Staughton at 2325 hrs,
to mark the Airfield at St Jacques.
The aircraft, ND 814. crashed on the western edge of the
Target Area.
Henry had over 59 operations to his credit, aged 23 years
DSO on 13 Jun 44 582 Sqn
S/L, R J K Hogg, NZ 41702
9th June 1916 to
Joined RNZAF on 23rd December 1938
Promoted to F/L on 23 September 1941
Completed his 3rd Tour of operations,
1st with No 75 [NZ] Squadron
2nd with
3rd with No 90 Squadron
DFC,
DSO on 14 July 1944 on No 90 Squadron flying Lancasters
F/O MID
A W/C, T W Horton, NZ 39920
DSO, DFC, & Bar,
29th December 1919 to
Joined the RNZAF on 26th October 1939.
Initial training at Blenheim on Vilderbeasts.
Sailed to the UK on SS Mataroa in April 1940.
Posted to No 88 Squadron flying Fairey Battles on the
Chanel Patrol from Sydenham in Northern Ireland.
The Squadron moved to Swanton Morley and
converted to Blenheims, continuing the Chanel Patrols.
Converted to Douglas Bostons, and flew more anti-shipping
strikes from Attlebridge, North-West of Norwich, Norfolk.
He spent a year as Instrument Flying Trainer before being
Posted to No 105 Squadron, flying Mosquitos on the
Pathfinding force.
Took command of No 105 Squadron in June 1945 and was
promoted to W/C
He completed his WW 2 service with 111 Sorties,
84 of them as a Pathfinder.
He retired from the RNZAF on 10th April 1947.
He returned to the UK and joined the RAF on 1st January 1948
After several Staff Positions, he was posted as CO to No 203
Squadron from December 1952 to January 1955.
During this time the Squadron moved to Topcliffe and
converted to Neptune MR 1 aircraft.
Posted back to Air Ministry in 1955 and to the Chief of
Air Staff’s Department and promoted to W/C in 1956.
Served as Senior Air Staff Officer at Gibraltar and Air Attache
to Rabat, Morocco from 1959 to 1960.
Posted to the Staff of NATO Committee in Washington DC
from 1964.
He retired on 29th December 1966, after 27 years of Military
Service
F/L DFC in 1942 for attacking shipping at a low level
at Rotterdam on 28th August 1941. on three
occasions he managed to return after one of his
engines had been disabled
S/L Bar to DFC in 1944 for great courage and
Determination in his missions on 105 Squadron.
W/C DSO on 21 Sep 1945 as CO 105 Sqn, for his
sound judgement and fine leadership.
This was presented by King George V1 at the
Court of St James on 21st September 1945.
with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner