Distinguished Service Order awarded to Captain C. H. Allen. Charles Henry Allen was a submarine officer and was awarded the DSO in recognition of his services on ‘E-42’ during World War I when he made a successful attack on the German battle cruiser ‘Moltke’ 25 April 1918. Allen was promoted to Commander in 1926 and subsequently commanded ‘X1’, at that time the largest submarine in the world, launched in 1923. He was promoted Captain on the retired list in 1940 and died in 1962.

The medal is an enamelled white cross edged in gold with a green central wreath containing the Imperial Crown in gold on a red background. On the reverse is the Royal Cypher within a green wreath on a red background. The ribbon has a wide central stripe of red edged with narrower stripes of blue. It is mounted on a bar with six other medals: 1914-15 Star (MED1164), British War Medal (MED1165), Victory Medal (MED1166), Defence Medal (MED1167), War Medal (MED1168) and Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary (MED1169).