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The Orders of Knighthood available to military men |
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Only two Australian generals were ever awarded the GCMG: Monash and Chauvel. Only 13 KCMG have been awarded to Australian military officers, of which eight went to Great War generals. The story with the KCB is similar; only 14 Australians have received this award, all but one military, and of the 13, ten went to Great War generals (although Blamey actually got his for the Second World War). |
| The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George | The Most Honourable Order of the Bath |
GCMG |
Knight Grand Cross Star of the Military Division of the Order not to scale GCB |
KCMG |
Knight Commander Star |
CMG |
Knight Commander Badge (KCB) |
Companion (CB) |
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The Order now consists of the Sovereign (The Queen), the Great Master (The Prince of Wales) and three classes of members. The statutes provide for 120 Knights and Dames Grand Cross (GCB), 295 Knights and Dames Commander (KCB and DCB) and 1,455 Companions (CB). The Order is principally awarded to officers of the Armed Services, as well as to a small number of civil servants. In 1971 women were admitted to the Order for the first time. Numbers may be increased in times of war or in the event of any military or civil action or service which merits 'peculiar honour or reward'. |
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Some men who served early
in Australia's military were made
Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO).
<<< The Star of the Order. Knights Commander also wore the neck badge. >>> The gold cypher VRI (Victoria Regina Imperatrix) is set on red enamel, surrounded by the motto VICTORIA set in blue enamel; the centre rests on a white enamel Maltese cross of eight points, set on a silver star of eight points, pierced and chopped, with a cut between the eight sets of rays |
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| The Royal
Victorian Order is given by The Queen to people who have served her or
the Monarchy in a personal way. These may include officials of the Royal
Household, family members or perhaps British Ambassadors who have helped
organise a State Visit to a particular country.
The Order was founded in April 1896 by Queen Victoria as a way of rewarding personal service to her, on her own initiative rather than by ministerial recommendation. The Order was, and is, entirely within the Sovereign's personal gift. The anniversary of the institution of the Order is 20 June, the day of Queen Victoria's accession to the throne. There have never been any limits on the number of appointments made. The Order is also conferred on foreigners, and it is often awarded by the Sovereign during official tours overseas. |
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In SOME rare cases it was possible to be promoted into the |
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Knight Commander (KBE) |
Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in one of these classes
and there was also the Medal of the Order. The medal later became the British Empire Medal (BEM) see below, right These awards did NOT confer Knighthood |
Commander (CBE) |
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Officer (OBE) |
Member (MBE) | British Empire Medal (BEM) |
The Imperial Service Order was created in 1902 with one level of award – Companion – and a medal which is restricted to civil servants. The Companion award ceased to be used in the United Kingdom in 1993 but the Imperial Service Medal continues to be awarded. For medal details
Keep in mind that we deal here only with military awards.
There are other civilian awards in all or most categories.
See below.
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British
Empire Medal (Civil). Awarded to
Margaret Hope Maberley Gordon who survived the sinking of the passenger
ship SS City of Cairo in the South Atlantic in 1942. The ship sailed
from Cape Town, and was torpedoed by a German U-boat on 6 November. When
the ship was abandoned Mrs Gordon found a place in lifeboat No. 4.
Her husband drowned when the vessel sank. She and the ship's Third Officer, James "Knocker" Whyte, were the only occupants of the lifeboat to reach safety, when they were rescued off the coast of Brazil, 52 days later on 27 December. The other 15 occupants of the boat died during the time at sea. Mrs Gordon later joined the Women's Royal Naval Service and returned to Australia in 1946. |
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27 September 1944 in New York, Mrs Gordon was presented with the British
Empire Medal for her gallantry during the ordeal. The citation reads
'The ship, sailing alone, was torpedoed in darkness. She sustained heavy
damage and commenced to settle rapidly by the stern. When it was seen
that the vessel could not be saved, abandonment was ordered. Many
passengers and members of the crew were rescued from the sea during the
night and distributed into six boats which set a course for land, 480
miles away. The Third Officer was in charge of a boat which parted
company with the others after seven days. As there were no navigational
instruments in this boat, land was missed and the boat was adrift for 52
days.
Great suffering and hardships were endured and when the boat was eventually picked up only the Third Officer and a passenger, Mrs. Gordon, remained. Mr Whyte never gave up hope during this tremendous ordeal and, by improvisation and repairs, he kept the boat afloat and sailing. His courage and resource were outstanding. Mrs Gordon showed exceptional qualities of fortitude and endurance. When the occupants of the boat died one after another, she did all in her power to allay their sufferings. Towards the end of the voyage she kept watch with the Third Officer in sailing and steering the boat.' |
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Badge of the Knights Batchelor The word Knight is derived from the Saxon Cnyht, which signified a servant or attendant; and Knighthood is the most ancient title of honour known in this country, its origin dating back to Saxon times. The designation Knight Bachelor was in existence as long ago as the reign of King Henry III. Although for many centuries none but the Sovereign, or some person specially designated by him, has been able to create a Knight, originally both ecclesiastical and lay persons could confer the honour. The Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor was founded for the maintenance and consolidation of the Dignity of Knights Bachelor in 1908, and obtained official recognition from the Sovereign in 1912. The Society keeps records of all Knights Bachelor, the interests of which its purpose is to maintain. |
Until 1926 Knights Bachelor had no
insignia which they could wear, but in that year HM The King issued a
Warrant authorising the wearing of a badge on all appropriate occasions.
The Knights Bachelor badge may be worn on all appropriate occasions upon
the left side of the coat or outer garment of those upon whom the degree
of Knight Bachelor has been conferred. It measures 2 and three-eighths
inches in length and 1 and three-eighths inches in width, is described
as follows:
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C.B.E. Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (1st Type) |
