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Instituted on 9 November 1886 and awarded for individual
instances of meritorious or distinguished service in wartime.
Prior to 1943, it was awarded only to officers whose service had
been mentioned in despatches for "distinguished services under
fire, or under conditions equivalent to service in actual combat
with the enemy."
By World War Two, this award generally went to officers in
command of battalions or brigades and holding Lieutenant Colonel
rank or higher. However, in the early years of the First World
War, the DSO was the only medal available to reward officers,
short of the Victoria Cross, until the creation of the Military
Cross. While awards to men ranked Major or below were not
uncommon in the First World War, by 1944 the award often
indicated not just outstanding leadership, but also individual
feats of gallantry just short of that degree rewarded by the
Victoria Cross.
In total, 1291 Canadians have been
decorated with the DSO (20 of these in the Boer War and 710 in
the First World War), with 113 Bars (ie a second award, which
includes 89 in the First World War) and 18 second Bars (or third
awards, including 15 from the First World War).
Thus, nineteen of the 1291 DSOs went to officers of the
Regiment, three members of the Tenth Battalion were awarded a
Bar to the DSO, and one Tenth Battalion Officer received a
second Bar (a feat only matched by 14 other Canadians).
The Distinguished Service Order is
technically not a "medal" but the insignia of this order is
indeed represented in the form of a medal, or ribbon when worn
in "undress." The DSO was replaced in 1972 when the Canadian
Honours System was introduced, replacing many of the former
British Empire/British Commonwealth awards currently in use by
the Canadian Government and Department of National Defence.
The following awards were made to
members of the Tenth Battalion, CEF, and The Calgary
Highlanders. This listing only covers those officers who were
serving with the Regiment during the action(s) for which the
award was made, not DSO holders who may later have served with
either the 10th Battalion or Calgary Highlanders.
First World War
1914-1918
| Rank |
Name |
Date
of Action |
Location |
Other
Awards |
Notes |
| Captain |
Arthur, Geoff |
Apr 1915 |
St. Julien |
|
|
| Major |
Ashton, E.J. |
|
|
|
|
| Captain |
Costigan, Charles |
17 Nov 1915 |
Trench Raid |
 |
Also awarded the MC
Killed at Passchendaele Nov 1917 |
| Major |
Critchley, Walter |
9 Apr 1917 |
Vimy Ridge |
|
|
| Major |
Ferguson, Hugh |
9 Apr 1917 |
Vimy Ridge |
|
|
| Lieutenant |
Graham, Gordon |
|
|
|
|
| Major |
MacDonald, Eric |
|
|
|
Also awarded the MC
|
| Lieutenant |
MacEachern, Norman |
Aug 1917 |
Hill 70 |
|
|
| Lieutenant Colonel |
Ormond, Dan |
9 Apr 1917 |
Vimy Ridge |
|
|
| Lieutenant Colonel |
Rattray, J.G. |
|
|
|
|
| Major |
Sparling, Walt |
9 Apr 1917 |
Vimy Ridge |
|
|
| Major |
Thomson, Alexander |
Oct 1916 |
Somme |
|
Also awarded the MC
|
| Captain |
Thompson, William |
Aug 1917 |
Hill 70 |
|
Also awarded the MC
|
| Major |
Walker, Phil |
|
|
|
|
 |
Bar to the
Distinguished Service Order |
| Lieutenant Colonel |
MacDonald, Eric |
Aug 1918 |
Amiens |
|
| Lieutenant |
MacEachern,
Norman |
|
|
|
| Lieutenant
Colonel |
Ormond, Dan |
Aug 1917 |
Hill 70 |
|
 |
Second Bar to the
Distinguished Service Order |
| Lieutenant
Colonel |
MacDonald, Eric |
Sep 1918 |
Villers-lez-Cagnicourt |
|
Second World War
1939-1945
|
Major |
Clarke, Francis Herbert
("Knobby") |
Aug 1944 - Apr 1945 |
For outstanding leadership,
particularly at Gruppen-Buhren 26 Apr 1945. |
| Lieutenant Colonel
|
Ellis, Ross
|
Feb - April 1945 |
For service as Commanding
Officer, especially at Wyler 8 Feb 1945. |
| Lieutenant Colonel |
Heyland, William Dalton ("Dalt") |
Aug 1944 - Apr 1945 |
Leadership as company 2 i/c,
command commander and battalion CO |
| Lieutenant Colonel |
MacLauchlan, Donald George |
13 Aug 1944 |
For a brilliant surprise
attack on Clair Tizon, France. Award made Oct 1944. |
| Major |
MacKenzie, Bruce |
21/22 Sep 1944 |
Albert Canal, Belgium.
Award presented 18 Dec 1944. |
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