Distinguished Service Medal: Established in 1914 to be awarded to petty officers and men of the Royal Navy and other non-commissioned officers of the Royal Marines. It can also be awarded to the Royal Air Force, Merchant Navy and Army or other personnel who give services to the naval Forces. The medal is silver, the obverse has the reigning monarch’s head and title. The reverse has the Victorian crown supported by a wreath of two laurel branches tied at their base and surrounding the words FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE.
The riband is dark blue with two wide white stripes with a narrow blue central stripe. Bars are bestowed for subsequent awards and when the riband is worn alone, the bar is denoted by a small silver rose.
The DSM had also been awarded by Commonwealth countries but by the 1990s most were establishing their own honours systems and no longer recommended British honours. The DSM ceased issues in 1993.
