History

The Distinguished Service Cross was instituted in 1991 to recognise distinguished command and leadership during warlike operations. The award can be conferred upon military personnel of all rank, although, since the medal was designed to reward distinguished command, Officers are more likely to receive the award. It has been awarded a total of 97 times.

The decoration is a modified Maltese Cross that is composed out of nickel-silver. The obverse of the cross features the Federation Star superimposed over a background of flames. The Crown of St. Edward is affixed to the top of the medal and attaches to a plain suspension bar. The reverse of the medal features a blank panel for the recipient’s name. The ribbon has a red central stripe and two white exterior stripes.

If a recipient receives the decoration again, it comes in the form of a nickel-silver bar that attaches to the ribbon. The bar features the Federation Star superimposed over a circle of flame. When the ribbon is worn alone, a bar is denoted with the addition of a silver-nickel Federation Star emblem.

Recipient’s of the award are entitled to use the postnominal letters ‘DSC’.