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medal, decoration

On display
human history
  • Other Name

    Distinguished Service Order and bar (DSO) (descriptive name)

    Major Henry Gordon Wilding, NZFA, WW1 (associated name)

  • Description

    Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and bar awarded to Major Henry Gordon Wilding, 7th Battery 1st Brigade, NZ Field Artillery, WW1

    DSO with GVR cypher

    silver gilt cross, enamelled white, edged gilt, ornamented clasp and ring suspension: with ribbon

    obverse: in the centre within a wreath of laurel enamelled green the Imperial Crown in gold,

    reverse: within a wreath of laurel enamelled green the Royal cypher : GVR

    ribbon: grosgrain ribbon, 29mm wide, narrow blue vertical striped with wide central red stripe, at the top and bottom are two gold bars ornamented with laurel

  • Place
    United Kingdom
  • Associated Place

    Western Front/Europe

  • Accession Number
    2001.25.1127.1
  • Accession Date
    15 Aug 2001
  • Other Id

    TD:22 (Taprell Dorling)

    OD:17 (Oldham & Delahunt (1991))

    7643 (Asset Register)

  • Department

    History

    War History

  • Display Room

    Pou Maumahara

Distinguished Service Order 2001.25.1127.1

Images and documents

Images

  • Distinguished Service Order 2001.25.1127.1
  • Distinguished Service Order 2001.25.1127.1
  • Distinguished Service Order 2001.25.1127.1

Artefact

  • Display location

    Pou Maumahara drawer bank 5, drawer D, medal position 15

  • Credit Line
    Brent Mackrell collection, Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira, Acc. 2001.25.1127.1
  • Collection
    Brent Mackrell Collection
  • Place
    United Kingdom
  • Date
    Circa 1919
  • Associated Notes

    Distinguished Service Order and bar (DSO)

    Major Henry Gordon Wilding, NZ Field Artillery, WW1

    On the weekend that war was declared in 1914 Gordon Wilding turned down an invitation to play rugby for North Auckland and instead rode horseback from Kaikohe to Whangarei to enlist. He served on Gallipoli and then from France to Germany. He was twice wounded, was mentioned in despatches three times and was thought to be the only New Zealand officer to be awarded DSO and bar while still a Major.

    DSO LG 3 June 1918, p6461, Rec No 1993

    Major, 7th Battery, 1st Brigade, NZ Field Artillery

    "For distinguished service in connection with military operations in France and Flanders."

    Bar to DSO LG 2 December 1918, p14208, Rec. no 2338

    Major, 7th Battery, NZ Field Artillery

    "For conspicuous gallantry and initiative. During a strong counter attack by the enemy, some of our air infantry fell back on this officer's Battery. He immediately rallied the infantry, and running one of his gun forward, fired over open sights and held the position until reinforcements arrived. His promptitude and courage saved a critical situation."

  • Associated Event
    WW1; 1914-1918
  • Associated Person

     Col. Henry Gordon Wilding

     1NZEF: New Zealand Field Artillery

  • Associated Place

    Western Front/Europe

  • Associated Date
    1918
  • Period

    World War 1, 1914-18/Wars

    George V (1910 - 1936)/House of Windsor/English reign

  • Media

    gilt plate/plate/metal/inorganic material

    enamel/coating (material)

    grosgrain ribbon/ribbon

  • Measurement Reading

    95mm

    48mm

    41mm

    29mm

  • Classification

    medal, order

    Medal, Order

    Achievement Symbols

    Personal Symbols

    08 Communication Artifacts

  • Last Update
    19 Mar 2024
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