Distinguished Service Cross (Australia)

Government allowance

The Government of Australia may grant an allowance to veterans or serving members of the Australian Defence Force who have been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, or other awards for gallantry. In November 2007, this allowance was A$2.10 per fortnight.

Description

The Distinguished Service Cross is described as: "...a modified Maltese Cross of nickel silver ensigned with the Crown of St Edward. The obverse bears a Federation Star surmounted on a disc of flames. The medal has a nickel-silver suspender bar. The medal ribbon has a central ochre-red stripe surrounded by narrower silver-blue stripes."

Distinct recipients

Since its inception, eight bars have been awarded; ;One bar

• Colonel V, DSC & Bar – Citation: For distinguished command and leadership in action as a commanding officer on Operation Slipper in Afghanistan in June 2009.
• Lieutenant Colonel P, DSC & Bar – Citation: For distinguished command and leadership in action.
• Major General Michael Peter Crane, DSC & Bar, AM – Citation: distinguished command and leadership in warlike operations as the Commander of Joint Task Force 633 on Operation Slipper from October 2012 to September 2013.
• Lieutenant Colonel F, DSC & Bar – Citation: For distinguished command and leadership in warlike operations during Operation SLIPPER.
• Brigadier Daniel Fortune, DSC & Bar – Citation: for distinguished command and leadership in warlike operations on Operation Slipper.
• Brigadier John William Shanahan, DSC & Bar, AM, OBE – Citation: For distinguished command and leadership in warlike operations as the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Resolute Support Headquarters Chief of Operations and as Commanding General Train Advise Assist Command – South in Afghanistan from September 2017 to February 2019.

;Two bars

• Lieutenant Colonel Ian Langford, DSC & Two Bars. Originally reported as "Lieutenant Colonel I" due to Special Forces protocols for name suppression. First citation: For distinguished command and leadership in warlike operations as Commanding Officer of Special Operations Task Group on Operation Slipper. Second Citation: For distinguished leadership in warlike operations as part of a Special Operations Force on Operation OKRA from September 2014 to February 2015.

Senate inquiry

On 3 July 2024, a senate inquiry was launched to investigate the award criteria for the Distinguished Service Cross including the 2011 change from “in action” to “in warlike operations”.

References

References

1. (25 September 2007). "The Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards". Government House.
2. "Distinguished Service Cross". Commonwealth of Australia.
3. "Veteran's Entitlements Act 1986 – Sect 102". Australasian Legal Information Institute.
4. [http://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/ad/ad2011/Media%20Notes%20DSC%20and%20Bar%20%28final%29.pdf COL ''V'' DSC & Bar], 26 January 2011, https://www.gg.gov.au/australian-honours-and-awards/australian-honours-lists
5. [https://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/ad/ad2012/Media%20Notes%20DSC%20and%20Bar%20%28final%29.pdf LTCOL ''P'' DSC & Bar], 26 January 2012, https://www.gg.gov.au/australian-honours-and-awards/australian-honours-lists
6. (9 June 2014). "MAJGEN ''Michael Peter Crane'' DSC & Bar, AM". The Queen's Birthday 2014 Honours List – Gazette 3 Military.
7. {{Cite It's an Honour. (26 January 2015)
8. (21 November 2016). "Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2016; Second Reading".
9. [https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1149512 LTCOL ''I'' DSC & Bar], 26 January 2014, itsanhonour.gov.au
10. (26 January 2016). "Australia Day 2016 Honours List". Australian Government.
11. (4 March 2019). "Accelerated Warfare, Presented by Brigadier Ian Langford, DSC and Bars".
12. (3 July 2024). "Inquiry to probe integrity of military honours and awards amid claims of abuse". The Nightly.
13. "Honours inquiry announcement". Senator Malcolm Roberts.