Distinguished Service Medal (UK)

Distinguished Service Medal
Obverse of the medal and ribbon bar
Awarded by UK and Commonwealth
Type	Military decoration.
Eligibility	other ranks of the British and (formerly) Commonwealth forces
Awarded for	set an example of bravery and resource under fire
Status	Discontinued in 1993
Statistics
Established	14 October 1914
First awarded	1914
Order of Wear
Next (higher)	Union of South Africa Queen’s Silver Medal for Bravery (de jure) George Medal (de facto)
Next (lower)	Military Medal
Related	Distinguished Service Cross

Until 1993, the Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the Royal Navy and members of the other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, up to and including the rank of Chief Petty Officer, for bravery and resourcefulness on active service at sea.

The medal was established on 14 October 1914. It was the Other Ranks' equivalent to the Distinguished Service Cross, which was awarded to commissioned officers and Warrant Officers, although it ranked below that decoration in order of precedence, between the George Medal and the Military Medal after those medals' respective establishments in 1940 and 1916. Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal are entitled to use the post-nominal letters "DSM". In 1993, the DSM was discontinued, and since then the Distinguished Service Cross has been available for award to personnel of all ranks.