IanA Posted 17 February , 2008 Share Posted 17 February , 2008 The novelist Henry Williamson writes of an officer who is awarded the D.S.O. After the war, the officer is convicted of a crime which he did not commit. He nevertheless feels he has to return the award and observes that his name will be struck from the rolls of the order. Does anyone know if this is the case? I have not come across another reference to similar circumstances. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
59165 Posted 17 February , 2008 Share Posted 17 February , 2008 Ian,I'm sure I heard of a VC winner who had his taken back,this changed later on,I think ,so the medal was for life. Why not a DSO then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted 17 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 17 February , 2008 I got the impression that the return was due to it being an 'order' rather than simple medal. I may have misunderstood - which is why I ask the question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piley Posted 17 February , 2008 Share Posted 17 February , 2008 Ian, A number of Auxiliaries were dismissed and prosecuted for theft in Ireland, including the one-armed former Major Evan Cameron Bruce DSO MC, (formally Tank Corps, and had only been Gazetted 23/4/20 for his DSO for South Russia) who was imprisoned for robbing a creamery, after being dismissed from the Division for striking a civilian without cause. On 19 February 1921, Commandant Crozier resigned after a dispute over discipline with the Police Adviser. Crozier had dismissed twenty-one Auxiliary Cadets accused of looting a licensed grocery store belonging to Protestant Unionists in County Meath. When General Tudor reinstated these men pending an official inquiry, Crozier left the Force. Bruce had both his DSO and MC forfit for the above incident and resulting was a broken man. Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 18 February , 2008 Share Posted 18 February , 2008 There are several instances of the VC being forfeited, but this was changed in 1920. So that if a criminal went to the gallows he would still be permitted to wear his VC with the rope around his neck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tjnsn1 Posted 18 February , 2008 Share Posted 18 February , 2008 All decorations and campaign medals could and with the exeption of the VC can still be forfeited following conviction for certain military and civilian offences. Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted 19 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 19 February , 2008 Thanks for all contributions. I know that deserters were usually denied the war medal and victory medal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted 20 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 20 February , 2008 I checked in my 1914 Manual of Military Law and it is clear that a soldier may be deprived of good conduct badges or military awards but I'm still not clear how a civil court may act on an ex-soldier. Does a DSO have a different protocol than a MC? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew B. Posted 20 February , 2008 Share Posted 20 February , 2008 I think you will find in the stautes of the Distinguished Service Order (and probably the Military Cross as well) that conviction by a civil power will mean deprivation of the award. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted 20 February , 2008 Author Share Posted 20 February , 2008 I think you will find in the stautes of the Distinguished Service Order (and probably the Military Cross as well) that conviction by a civil power will mean deprivation of the award. Exactly. I was hoping someone might be able to confirm this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripeyman Posted 20 February , 2008 Share Posted 20 February , 2008 Just to put my tuppence worth in. If you have won or deserserved an award or decoration that's it you have it. Although the powers that be 'take' it back, it is still yours in reality. In fact how dare they steal from you that which you won in the first place....... Bob Grundy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
per ardua per mare per terram Posted 21 February , 2008 Share Posted 21 February , 2008 Grundy, I agree with you and that is probably why George V expressed the view that he did in 1920. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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