The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Captain Herbert L. Collison, British Army, for extraordinary heroism while serving with Royal Artillery, in action near Obozerskaya, Russia, 16 October 1918. Captain Collison acted as artillery observer in an advance against the enemy, which was continuous over several hours and at all times under very heavy artillery and machine-gun fire. He not only accompanied the advance troops, but at times went ahead of them, in order better to direct the fire of the American troops. At one time, when by a rapid advance of a portion of our troops, they were within the danger zone of our own fire, telephone communication having been cut, Captain Collison returned through the enemy barrage and taking a position in the open and under fire signaled a warning to our artillery. By this particularly brave and daring act the success of the American Infantry in this engagement was assured.