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Tag: Great Britain Orders of Knighthood

The NATO Medal

The NATO Medal is an international military decoration awarded to militaries under the authority of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The NATO Medal is an international military decoration established in 1996 and awarded to various militaries under the authority of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

The medal was instituted to recognize individuals who had served in Former Yugoslavia in the Implementation Force (IFOR) as part of Operation Joint Endeavor. In 1999, a new ribbon was introduced for participants in Operation Allied Force in Kosovo and, later, further ribbons were established for each NATO operation as they became more common.

The NATO Medal Design

There are currently 14 versions of the NATO Medal:

  • One medal design for service in the former Yugoslavia, Kosovo, and North Macedonia.
  • Two medal designs for service during Article 5 operations (Eagle Assist, Active Endeavour).
  • Eight medal designs for Non-Article 5 NATO operations (International Security Assistance Force Afghanistan or ISAF, Resolute Support, Balkans, NATO Training Mission-Iraq or NTM-I, Africa, AMIS, OUP-Libya, and Pakistan).

NATO settled on three ribbon styles in early 2003. There is one for the NATO Meritorious Service Medal, one for Article 5 operations, and one for non-Article 5 operations.

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The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem

The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem is a working order of charitably minded men and women established in 1888.

The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, and also known as the Order of St John or St John International, is a British royal order of chivalry constituted in 1888 by Queen Victoria and dedicated to St John the Baptist, an itinerant preacher in the early 1st century AD.

The order can be tracked back to the Knights Hospitaller in the Middle Ages. The Knights Hospitalle were a medieval and early modern Catholic military order, later known as the Order of Malta. A faction moved to Britain in the early 1830s and became associated with the founding in 1882 of the St John Ophthalmic Hospital near the old city of Jerusalem and the St John Ambulance Brigade in 1887.

The Order of St John is also known for the health organizations it has founded, such as St John Ambulance and St John Eye Hospital Group. 

The Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem Design

The insignia of the Order is a Maltese cross, or eight-pointed cross in white enamel set in silver-colored metal. The cross is embellished in each of its main angles with lions and unicorns, with a lion in the top left and bottom right angles. 

The insignia of a Bailiff or Dame Grand Cross consists of a breast star and a sash badge. The insignia of a Knight or Dame of Justice or of Grace is a breast star and a neck badge. The insignia of a Commander is a neck badge, the Officer insignia is silver and enameled white, and he insignia of a Member is also worn on the left breast but is bright silver without enamel.

The badges have a ring attached to the top through which the ribbon passes. The ribbon for all grades is black watered.

The Knight Bachelor’s Badge

The title of Knight Bachelor (KB) as introduced by King Henry III to recognize a battelier, and the KB badge authorized by George V.

The title of Knight Bachelor (KB) as introduced by King Henry III to recognize a battelier (someone who fought in battle). The badge was authorized by George V in response to a request from the Imperial Society of Knights Bachelors who wished to have a distinctive badge denoting their rank.

Knights Bachelor are the most ancient sort of British knight, but Knights Bachelor rank below knights of chivalric orders. There is no female counterpart to Knight Bachelor.

The Knight Bachelor’s Badge Design

The badge is a silver-gilt and enamel upright oval medallion enclosed by a scroll and bearing a cross-hilted sword, belted and sheathed with the pommel upwards. It’s surrounded by two spurs, rowels upwards, and a sword-belt.

Some pre-war breast badges are struck in metal. The badge measures a maximum of 76.50 millimeters high and 56.50 millimeters wide, but it was reduced in 1933 to 63.25 mm and in 1973 to 54 mm.

The ribbon measures 38 millimeters and is scarlet with broad yellow borders.

The Baronet’s Badge

The Baronet’s Badge was established in 1629 by Letter Patent by James I to recognize baronets whose knighthood became hereditary. 

Time Period: Pre-WW1
Year of Institution: 1629
Country: Great Britain

The Baronet’s Badge was established in 1629 by Letter Patent by James I to recognize baronets whose knighthood became hereditary.

In 1625, Charles I conferred on the holders of lands in Nova Scotia the title and dignity of Baronets of Nova Scotia with the title of Sir, and decreed that they should wear around their necks “an orange tawny ribbon whereon shall be pendent an escutcheon“.

English and Scottish Baronetcies ceased to be created after the Union with England in 1707, when they were replaced by baronetcies of Great Britain.

The Baronet’s Badge Design

The badge is struck in gold or silver-gilt upright oval with a plain ring suspension and measures 55 millimeters in height and either 41 or 44 millimeters in width. Originally skeletal, with a shield bearing the lion rampant of Scotland and decorated with pearls and enamels. It was surmounted by a Scottish crown and surrounded by a blue border with the inscription “FAX MENTIS HONESTAE GLORIA”.

From 1929 on, the badges have a solid ground and a central shield with the red hand of Ulster surmounted by a crown and a border of gold and blue enamel. The border is decorated with roses (England), shamrocks (Ireland), roses and thistles combined (Great Britain) or roses, shamrocks, and thistles combined (United Kingdom). The name of the recipient is usually engraved on the reverse.

The ribbon is either 30 millimeters wide orange watered silk (for Nova Scotia), or 44 millimeters orange bordered with narrow blue edges (for other Baronets).

The Order of the Companions of Honor

The Order of the Companions of Honor is an order of the Commonwealth founded in 1917 by King George V as a reward for achievements.

The Order of the Companions of Honor is an order of the Commonwealth realms founded on 4 June 1917 by King George V as a reward for outstanding achievements. The Chapel Royal at Hampton Court is now the Chapel of the Order.

The order was initially designed to be bestowed upon a select group of individuals for whom this unique distinction was deemed the most fitting form of recognition, separate from any acceptance of titles or merit classifications. The decoration is now described as “awarded for having a major contribution to the arts, science, medicine, or government lasting over a long period of time“, the first recipients were all decorated for “services in connection with the war“.

The inaugural recipients of this order were honored for their services related to the war, and their names were published in The London Gazette.

The Order's Award Criteria

Today, the Order of the Companions of Honor is awarded to those who have made a significant contribution to the arts, science, medicine, or government over an extended period.

It’s “conferred upon a limited number of persons for whom this special distinction seems to be the most appropriate form of recognition, constituting an honor disassociated either from the acceptance of title or the classification of merit.” 

The order consists of the Sovereign and a maximum 65 members. Appointments to the order are typically made based on recommendations from the prime ministers of the Commonwealth realms. Foreigners or Commonwealth citizens from outside the Commonwealth realms may be added as honorary members.

The Order of the Companions of Honor Design

The badge of the Order is struck in silver in the form of an oval medallion measuring 48 millimeters high and 29 millimeters wide. It’s surmounted by an imperial crown with a rectangular panel within, depicting on it an oak tree, a shield with the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom hanging from one branch, and, on the left, a mounted knight in armor. 

The insignia’s blue border bears, in the obverse and in gold letters the motto IN ACTION FAITHFUL AND IN HONOUR CLEAR, Alexander Pope‘s description in his Epistle to Mr Addison of James Craggs. The oval is surmounted by an imperial crown.

Men wear the badge on a neck ribbon (red with golden border threads) and women on a bow at the left shoulder. The ribbon measures 38 millimeters and is carmine with borders of gold thread.

The British Empire Medal

The British Empire Medal is a British medal awarded for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown.

The British Empire Medal (formally known as British Empire Medal for Meritorious Service) is a British medal awarded for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown. It was created in 1922 to replace the original medal, which had been established in 1917 as part of the Order of the British Empire.

Recipients are entitled to use the post-nominal letters “BEM“. The honor is divided into civil and military medals and, while recipients are not technically counted as members of the Order, these medals are nevertheless affiliated with it.

Between 1922 and 1940, the BEM was usually awarded to people below management or professional level such as to non-commissioned officers of the armed forces, officers below superintendent rank in the police, and personnel below divisional officer level in the fire services. From 1940, the BEM was awarded for acts of gallantry that did not reach the standard of the George Medal.

The British Empire Medal Design

The medal is struck in silver and measures 36 millimeters in diameter, although some specimens measure up to 37.5 millimeters. The words MERITORIOUS SERVICE are inscribed in the exergue. The medal is suspended from a straight bar ornamented with oak leaves. An emblem of crossed silver oak leaves was introduced in December 1957 to denote a gallantry award.

Like the ribbons used for other classes of the Order of the British Empire, the ribbon of the British Empire Medal is rose-pink with pearl-grey edges, with the addition of a pearl-grey central stripe for the military division.

The Empire Gallantry Medal

The Empire Gallantry Medal (or EGM), was a British medal awarded for acts of the gallantry introduced it on 29 December 1922.

The Medal of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for Gallantry, or Empire Gallantry Medal (EGM), was a British medal awarded for acts of the gallantry introduced it on 29 December 1922, when the original Medal of the Order of the British Empire was split into two.

The Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Gallantry (EGM) awarded for acts of gallantry. Shortly after the commencement of the Blitz, King George VI created the George Cross to recognize gallantry by men and women in all walks of civilian life. It was to rank immediately after the Victoria Cross.

Recipients were entitled to use the post-nominal letters “EGM” and were divided into military and civil divisions. The Empire Gallantry Medal was revoked by Royal Warrant on 24 September 1940.

The Empire Gallantry Medal Design

The phrase “For God and the Empire” was inscribed around the upper side of the obverse. The first type of reverse had six lions, with the Royal Cypher centered. The 2nd type of reverse had four lions, two on either side of the Royal Cypher.

The original ribbon was plain purple, with the addition of a thin vertical red stripe for military awards. A silver laurel branch was added diagonally to the ribbon for both types of the award in 1933. The ribbon changed to rose pink with pearl-grey edges in July 1937, with an additional pearl grey vertical stripe for military awards, and stayed in this version until its revocation.

The medal and ribbon were designed first by Langford Jones.

The Royal Victorian Order

The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood established in 1896 by Queen Victoria for distinguished service to the monarch.

The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood established in 1896 by Queen Victoria to recognize distinguished personal service to the monarch of the Commonwealth realms, members of the monarch’s family, or to any viceroy or senior representative of the monarch. There is no limit on the number of individuals honored at any grade, and admission remains at the sole discretion of the monarch.

The reigning monarch is at the apex of the Royal Victorian Order as its Sovereign, followed by the Grand Master. The Order has five grades and one medal with three levels representing different levels of service. All those honored may use the prescribed styles of the order. The order’s motto is Victoria, and its official day is 20 June and its chapel is the Savoy Chapel in London.

The grades are as follows:

  • Knight / Dame Grand Cross.
  • Knight / Dame Commander.
  • Commander.
  • Lieutenant.
  • Member.

The Royal Victorian Order Design

The badge of the Order is a Maltese cross with a central medallion depicting on a red background the Royal Cypher of Queen Victoria, surrounded by a blue ring bearing the motto of the order—VICTORIA—and surmounted by a Tudor crown and worn on a sash depending on the grade. For Knights and Dames Grand Cross, Commanders, and Lieutenants, the Maltese cross is rendered in white enamel with gold edging, while that for Knights and Dames Commander and Members is in silver. The size of the badge also varies by rank, that for the higher classes being larger.

The medal bears the effigy and name of the reigning sovereign at the time of its awarding, as well as the phrase DEI • GRATIA • REGINA (or REX) • F.D. (by the grace of God, Queen (or King), Defender of the Faith), and on the reverse is the Royal Cypher upon an ornamental shield within a laurel wreath.

The ribbon is blue with red-white-red stripe edging, and at formal events, or collar days, Knights and Dames Grand Cross wear the Royal Victorian Order’s livery collar, consisting of an alternating string of octagonal gold pieces.

The Imperial Order of the Crown of India

The Imperial Order of the Crown of India is an order established by Queen Victoria in 1878 when she became Empress of India.

The Imperial Order of the Crown of India is an order in the British honors system open only to women and established by Queen Victoria in 1878 when she became Empress of India. The members of the Order could use the post-nominal letters “CI“, but did not acquire any special precedence or status due to it.

No additional appointments have been made since the Partition of India in 1947. The Order was limited to British princesses, wives or female relatives of Indian princes and the wife or female relatives of any person who held the office of:

  • Viceroy of India,
  • Governor of Madras,
  • Governor of Bombay,
  • Governor of Bengal,
  • Commander-in-Chief India,
  • Secretary of State for India,
  • Governor-General of India.

Queen Elizabeth II is the last surviving former member (now Sovereign) of the Order. Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester was the last ordinary member at the time of her death in 2004.

The Imperial Order of the Crown of India Design

The badge of the Order includes Queen Victoria’s Imperial Cypher, VRI (“Victoria Regina Imperatrix”). The letters were set in diamonds, pearls, and turquoises and were together surrounded by a border of pearls, surrounded by an oval frame and surmounted by a figure of the Imperial Crown.

The badge was worn attached to a light blue silk bow, with narrow white stripes towards the edges, on the left shoulder.

The Royal Order of Victoria and Albert

The Royal Order of Victoria and Albert was a British Royal Family Order instituted in1862 by Queen Victoria and granted to female members.

The Royal Order of Victoria and Albert was a British Royal Family Order instituted on 10 February 1862 by Queen Victoria and only granted to female members of the British Royal Family and female courtiers. It was personally awarded by the Queen.

The honor conferred no rank or title upon the recipient, but recipients were entitled to use the post-nominal letters “VA”.

The order had four classes:

  • First Class
  • Second Class
  • Third Class
  • Fourth Class

No award was made after the death of Queen Victoria and the last holder of the Order, Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone (and the last surviving grandchild of the Queen), died in 1981.

The Royal Order of Victoria and Albert Design

For the first three classes, the badge consisted of an upright oval onyx cameo of Queen Victoria and Albert, The Prince Consort, differing in the width and jewelling of the border as the classes descend, whilst the fourth substitutes a jeweled cipher. The badges of the First and Second Classes are set in diamonds and surmounted by an imperial crown. The badge of the Second Class is similar but smaller. The badge for the Third Class is set in pearls and that for the Fourth Class takes the form of a monogram “V&A” set with pearls.

All four were surmounted by a crown, which was attached to a bow of white silk moiré ribbon 38 millimeters in diameter. The bow was worn on the left shoulder.