Editing Distinguished Service Order (section)

==Recipients==

===Numbers awarded===
From 1918 to 2017, the Distinguished Service Order was awarded approximately 16,935 times, in addition to 1,910 bars. The figures to 1979 are laid out in the table below,{{sfn|Abbott|Tamplin|1981|p=124–129}} the dates reflecting the relevant entries in the ''London Gazette'':
{| class="wikitable"
! Period ||  ||align=center| Crosses|| 1st bar || 2nd bar || 3rd bar
|-
|align=center| Pre-First World War ||align=center| 1886–1913 ||align=center| 1,732 ||align=center| – ||align=center| – ||align=center| – 
|-
|align=center| First World War ||align=center| 1914–1919 ||align=center| 9,881 ||align=center| 768 ||align=center| 76 ||align=center| 7  
|-
|align=center| Inter-war || align=center| 1919–1939 ||align=center| 148 ||align=center| 16 ||align=center| – ||align=center| – 
|-
|align=center| Second World War ||align=center| 1939–1946 ||align=center| 4,880 ||align=center| 947 ||align=center| 59 ||align=center| 8 
|-
|align=center| Post-1945 ||align=center| 1947–1979||align=center| 204 ||align=center| 20 ||align=center| 5 ||align=center| 1 
|-
|align=center| '''Total''' ||align=center| '''1886–1979''' ||align=center| '''16,845''' ||align=center| '''1,751''' ||align=center| '''140''' ||align=center| '''16''' 
|}

In addition, approximately 90 DSOs were awarded between 1980 and 2017, including awards for the [[Falklands War|Falklands]], [[Gulf War|Gulf]], [[Iraq War|Iraq]] and [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|Afghanistan]] [[War]]s, in addition to three Bars.<ref>Post 1979 DSOs include 19 for the [[Falklands War|Falklands]] ([https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/49134/supplement/12831 London Gazette Supplement, 8 October 1982]); 1 for [[British military intervention in the Sierra Leone Civil War|Sierra Leone]] ([https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/57070/supplement/12066  London Gazette Supplement, 30 September 2003]); 8 for [[Gulf War]] ([https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/52588/supplement/1 London Gazette Supplement, 29 June 1991] [https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/53855/supplement/16325 Late award: 21 November 1994]); 18 bars for [[List of British gallantry awards for the Iraq War#Distinguished Service Order|Iraq]] and 43+3 second award bar for [[List of British gallantry awards for the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)#Distinguished Service Order|Afghanistan]], plus awards for smaller conflicts.</ref> The above figures include awards to the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]]. 

* In all, 1,220 DSOs were awarded to Canadians, plus 119 first bars and 20 second Bars.<ref name="veteran">[http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/medals-decorations/details/40 Veterans Affairs Canada – Distinguished Service Order] (Retrieved 8 December 2018)</ref> 
* From 1901 to 1972, when the last Australian to receive the DSO was announced, 1,018 awards were made to Australians, plus 70 first Bars and one second Bar.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/awards/imperial.cfm#dso |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060623051652/http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/awards/imperial.cfm#dso |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 June 2006 |title=Imperial Awards |work=It's an Honour |publisher=[[Australian Government]] |access-date=8 December 2018}}</ref> 
* The DSO was awarded to over 300 New Zealanders during the two World Wars.<ref name="NZ" /> 
* At least 14 Indian officers of the [[British Indian Army]] (i.e., until 1947) were awarded the DSO, with one in the First World War and 13 in the Second World War. The higher number awarded during the latter was due to the gradual [[Indianisation (British India)|Indianization]] of the British Indian Army from 1923 (see: [[:Category:South Asian Companions of the Distinguished Service Order|South Asian Companions of the Distinguished Service Order]]).
* Honorary awards to members of allied foreign forces include at least 1,329 for the First World War.{{sfn|Abbott|Tamplin|1981|p=124–129}}

=== Quadruple recipients ===
{{See also|Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order}}
The following received the DSO with three [[Medal bar|Bars]] (''i.e.,'' awarded the DSO four times):
* [[Archibald Walter Buckle]], rose from [[naval rating]] in the [[Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve]] to [[Commander (Royal Navy)|command]] the Anson Battalion of the [[Royal Naval Division]] during the First World War<ref name=LG1919/>
* [[William Denman Croft]],<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=31183|date=14 February 1919|page=2363|supp=y}}</ref> First World War army officer
* [[William Robert Aufrere Dawson]], [[Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment]] during the First World War, wounded nine times and mentioned in despatches at least five times<ref name=LG1919/>
* Sir [[Basil Embry]], Second World War [[Royal Air Force]] officer
* Sir [[Bernard Freyberg]], also awarded the Victoria Cross, was decorated DSO three times during the First World War, and a fourth during the Second World War
* [[Edward Albert Gibbs]], Second World War [[destroyer]] [[Captain (Royal Navy)|captain]]<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=36081|page=3056|date=2 July 1943}}</ref>
* [[Arnold Jackson (athlete)|Arnold Jackson]], First World War British Army officer and 1500 metre Olympic gold medal winner in 1912
* Sir [[Douglas Kendrew]], brigade commander in Italy, Greece and the Middle East between 1944 and 1946. Subsequently, appointed Governor of Western Australia
* [[Robert Sinclair Knox]], First World War British Army officer<ref name=LG1919>{{London Gazette|issue=31583| date=3 October 1919|page=12213| supp=y}}</ref>
* [[Frederick William Lumsden]], British First World War [[Royal Marines]] officer, also awarded the Victoria Cross
* [[Paddy Mayne]], [[Special Air Service]] commander in the Second World War and Irish [[Rugby football|rugby]] player
* Sir [[Richard Onslow (Royal Navy officer)|Richard George Onslow]], Second World War destroyer captain and later admiral<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=36771 |supp=y|page=4977|date=27 October 1944}}</ref>
* [[Alastair Pearson]], a British Army officer appointed DSO four times within the space of two years during the Second World War
* [[James Brian Tait]], RAF pilot also awarded the [[Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)|DFC]] with Bar, completed 101 bombing missions in the Second World War
* [[Frederic John Walker]], Second World War Royal Navy captain and [[U-boat]] hunter
* [[Edward Allan Wood]],<ref>{{cite web |first=John |last=Bourne |work=Centre for First World War Studies |title=Edward Allan Wood |url=http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/activity/warstudies/research/projects/lionsdonkeys/t.aspx |publisher=University of Birmingham |location=Birmingham, UK |access-date=6 December 2018}}</ref> First World War army officer