The Distinguished Service Order - A junior officer's reward 

Queen Victoria liked her medals and the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is another one of hers.  It was created thirty years after the Victoria Cross in 1886 and intended as an award for distinguished service or acts of gallantry against the enemy.  In terms of the hierarchy of gallantry medals it ranks just below the Victoria Cross. 

But surely lots of medals for gallant behaviour already existed you ask.  And this is true.  The Order of the Bath had been available for senior officers whilst the Distinguished Conduct Medal was awarded to other ranks.  And of course the Victoria Cross was available across the board to those few deserving souls.  The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) however was designed with mid-level officers in mind.  It was an award for those, typically in the rank of Captain or Major or above, that were felt to have undertaken distinguished service in the face of enemy fire.  That said, these boundaries of rank are grey areas and a number of junior officers have been awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).  This is typically taken as a recognition that they had only just missed out on receiving a Victoria Cross.

The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is one of the small group of honours that bring entitlements other than the medal itself.  Recipients of the order become Companions of the Distinguished Service Order and are entitled to use the letters 'DSO' following their name.

Following the review of military honours in 1993, the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross now fills the level below the Victoria Cross.  The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is now awarded for distinguished leadership during active operations against the enemy and is likely to be awarded only to the more senior officers ranks.