Distinguished Conduct Medal Captain Royce Coleman Dyer, DCM, MM (February 1, 1889 – December 30, 1918) was a Canadian soldier who fought during World War I and had led a Russian unit during the North Russia intervention which was part of the Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War after the October Revolution.

[2] Dyer enlisted on September 23, 1914, in Valcartier, Québec and was assigned to the 8th Bn, Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment), the 'Black Devils'.

[3] After being promoted to Sergeant, he was hospitalized after breaking a rib during the Battle of the Somme, and again knocked out of action after suffering a gunshot wound to the torso.

He attracted the attention of the unit's commander General Edmund Ironside after his actions while taking the village of Onega, for which he received the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

He set a very fine example to his men throughout the action, and, from a very exposed position, successfully engaged an enemy machine-gun at close range with his Lewis gun.

The unit never recovered but to show their respect the men carried around a huge portrait of Dyer when marching, as is the Eastern Orthodox tradition of an Icon.