COMPANIONS OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER 1923-2010 Army Awards Volume One - Douglas V Hearns - Bog

Some reference books are new or important, this is one that both, giving serious historians and researchers an important tool that unlocks both the biographical and most importantly in almost all cases award citation/recommendation details of the DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER 1923-2010 Army Awards. This three volume 1665 page work details the awards of the D.S.O. and biographical details of recipients of the Armies of Britain and its Commonwealth for the period 1923 to 2010. designed to follow on from the classic reference book, "The V.C. & D.S.O. 1886 to 1923"Section One details the 78 awards made between the First and Second World Wars, for the years 1923-1939. Awards made primarily on India's Northwest Frontier, others in Iraq and later in Palestine, 1936-1939. Section Two is the bulk of the book, some 3,020 awards made during the period 1940 to 1947. In this section is amassed the vast majority of the actual recommendations for these awards from which the citation is extracted, the majority never before published. Section Three contains the 150 awards made for the period 1948 to 1993 in the many wars and conflicts following W.W.II such as Palestine 1945/48, Malaya, Korea, Borneo, Aden, Vietnam, Falklands and The Gulf, 1991. Section Four details the awards of the D.S.O. from 1994 to present.Section Five has been added to honour the awards made to the Allied Armies, awards were made under the title of "Honorary" awards". A sample entry is shown to show the scope of detail of information available.BUCHER, F.M. - D.S.O. LG: 12 Jul. 1945 Major (36301), The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) (Thetford) "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North West Europe""On 3 April 1945, during the advance to OSNABRUCK, Major BUCHER, the 2IC of 12 Parachute Battalion, was placed in command of a small composite force. The task of this force was to advance up the axis driving the enemy onto the rest of the Battalion which had moved across country by night behind the enemy.Major BUCHER's force advanced at first light, but the leading troops were held up by strong enemy fire. Major BUCHER went forward to investigate, but soon came under heavy fire himself. He at once organised retaliation. To do so he had to move freely in a very exposed position. He then returned to bring up a troop of tanks. The leading tank was hit by an anti tank gun at point blank range, but Major BUCHER, who was within a few feet, was entirely unmoved. He issued quick orders for the deployment of his force. This manoeuvre was carried out with the greatest vigour and success, 27 Germans being killed, and five 75mm guns being captured, as well as a number of prisoners.Maj BUCHER's task was not rendered easier by the men being very tired and soaked to the skin. He infused them with such fire and dash however that their advance was irresistible. The magnificent courage and leadership of this offr played a large part in the capture of OSNABRUCK."Francis Moore BUCHER. Born 22 Jul. 1906; Son of Alfred Moore Bucher of Edinburgh; Brother of A.M.M. Bucher (q.v.); Educ: R.M.C. Sandhurst; 2Lt., The Royal Scots, 30 Aug. 1926; Lt., 30 Aug. 1929; Sec'd. for svc. with the R.W.A.F.F., 7 Sep. 1932-4 Aug. 1934; Capt., 10 Mar. 1938; Served in Palestine (M.I.D. LG: 15 Sep. 1939); Served with the B.E.F. in France, 1940 (M.I.D. LG: 20 Dec. 1940); a/Maj., 17 Aug. 1940; temp. Maj., 17 Nov. 1940; Maj., 30 Aug. 1943; local Lt.-Col., 1 Mar. 1944-3 May 1944; a/Lt.-Col., 11 May 1944; temp. Lt.-Col., 11 Aug. 1944; 2i/c, 12th Para Bn., NW Europe incl the Rhine Crossing (D.S.O.); Recommended for an immediate D.S.O. by Lt.-Col. K.T. Darling (q.v.), CO 12th Bn., Para Regt., 10 Apr. 1945; Wounded when blown off tank while requesting fire support during the adv. to Osnabruck, 4 Apr. 1945; a/Lt.-Col.; CO, 14th Para Bn. (TA), 1947-1948; CO, 1st Bn., R. Scots; Lt.-Col., 31 Dec. 1950; Lt.-Col., Empld. List (1), 3 Mar. 1953; Placed on retd. pay, 8 Nov. 1954; Ceased to belong to the Res. of Offrs