Bar to DSC Major RS Dallas

Breguet · 1 April 2002, 01:19 PM

I have seen the date of the Bar to Dallas' DSC recorded variously as June 22 1917 or June 28 1917. However in a letter home on May 15 1917 he states that he has just been awarded a bar to his DSC. ??? ???

Any suggestions ?

Frank_Olynyk · 1 April 2002, 05:39 PM

According to "Fringes of the Fleet and the Distinguished Service Cross", by RC Witte, Dallas' DSC was gazetted (ie, notification published) in the London Gazette on 6 Sept 1916, and the Bar to the DSC was gazetted on 22 June 1917. That is the date when the world as a whole learns about an award. The individual could be told about it anytime after the decision to make the award was made. He would not normally be told when he had been recommended for an award, only when the award had been confirmed. The time between his notification, and the gazetting of the award would depend on any number of bureaucratic obstacles.

Frank.

Breguet · 2 April 2002, 01:18 PM

Thanks, much as I supposed - good to have confirmation though.

cheers

Graeme · 3 April 2002, 08:36 PM

The citations for Dallas' DSCs are:

DSC (Gazetted 6 September 1916):

Flight Sub-Lieut. Dallas, in addition to performing consistently good work in reconnaissances and fighting patrols since December, 1915, has been brought to notice by the Vice-Admiral, Dover Patrol, for the specially gallant manner in which he has carried out his duties. Amongst other exploits is the following: On the 21st May, 1916, he sighted at least 12 hostile machines, which had been bombing Dunkerque. He attacked one at 7,000 feet, and then attacked a second machine close to him. After re-loading, he climbed to 10,000 feet, and attacked a large hostile two-seater machine off Westende. The machine took fire and nose-dived seawards. Another enemy machine then appeared, which he engaged and chased to the shore, but had to abandon owing to having used all his ammunition.

Bar to DSC (Gazetted 22 June 1917):

In recognition of his services on the 23rd April, 1917, when with two other machines he engaged a formation of nine hostile scouts and two-seater machines. Two two-seater machines were shot down, one of them by Flt.-Cdr. Dallas unassisted.

Graeme