The Royal Victorian Order was instituted by Queen Victoria on April 25, 1896, for personal services rendered to her majesty and her successors. It consists of the sovereign, chancellor, secretary and five classes—knights grand commanders, knights commanders, commanders and members of the fourth and fifth classes.
To the class of orders without the titular appellation "knight" belongs the Order of Merit, founded by King Edward VII. on the occasion of his coronation. The order includes those who have gained distinction in the military and naval services of the empire, and such as have made themselves a great name in the fields of science, art and literature. The number of British members has been fixed at 24, with the addition of such foreign persons as the sovereign shall appoint. A lady, Miss Florence Nightingale, re ceived the order in 1907. The badge is a cross of red and blue enamel surmounted by an imperial crown; the central blue medal lion bears the inscription "For Merit" in gold, and is surrounded by a wreath of laurel. The badge of the military and naval mem bers bears two crossed swords in the angles of the cross. The ribbon is garter blue and crimson and is worn round the neck.
The Distinguished Service Order, an order of military merit, was founded on Sept. 6, 1886, by Queen Victoria, to recognize the special services of officers in the army and navy. It consists of one class only, who take precedence immediately before the 4th class of the Royal Victorian Order. The badge is a white and gold cross with a red centre bearing the imperial crown surrounded by a laurel wreath. The ribbon is red, edged with blue. The Imperial Service Order was likewise instituted on June 26, 1902, and finally revised in 1908, as a recognition of services rendered to the British Crown by the members of the civil service in the empire, to consist of companions only. In precedence the order ranks after the Order of the British Empire, 4th class.
In addition to the above, there are two British orders confined to ladies. The Royal Order of Victoria and Albert, instituted in 1862, is a purely court distinction. The Imperial Order of the Crown of India is conferred for like purposes as the Order of the Indian Empire. Its object is to recognize the services of ladies connected with the court of India.
As was inevitable, the huge number of people engaged in the World War made it necessary that appointments to all the British Orders should be made on a greatly increased scale, while two additional Orders were instituted. A change in the method of
wearing the badge of the Third Class (Companion) of some British Orders was made. Where it used to be worn medal-fashion on the left breast, it is now hung round the neck.
The Order of the British Empire was instituted in June 1917, to reward War services in all capacities, military and civil. In 1918 a Military Division of the Order was created. The essential features of the latest statute of the Order, published on Dec. 29, 1922, are as follows:— There are five classes of the Order, which (like the Order of the Bath) is divided into military and civil divisions. Each class can be conferred upon men and women equally.
Highest Class—Knights Grand Cross and Dames Grand Cross (G.B.E.).
Second Class—Knights Commander and Dames Commander (K.B.E. and D.B.E.).
Third Class—Commanders (C.B.E.).
Fourth Class—Officers (O.B.E.).
Fifth Class—Members (M.B.E.).
The two highest classes of the Order wear a star. which is of silver, of two designs. In the centre is a golden medallion showing a representation of Britannia seated, surrounded by a circlet of crimson enamel bearing the motto of the Order, "For God and the Empire." The members of the first class wear the larger star on the left breast, and the badge of the Order (see below) is also worn on the sash, which, in the case of men, is 34 in. wide, in the case of women, 21 in. wide, and crosses the breast from the right shoulder to the left hip, the badge resting on the hip. A collar has been instituted for this class.
The members of the second class wear the smaller star on the left breast, with the badge suspended, in the case of men, by a ribbon in. wide passing round the neck, and in the case of women, from a bow of ribbon of the same width, placed on the left side, above the star. The third class wear the badge, in the case of men, from a ribbon of the same width as the second class round the neck, and, in the case of women, from a bow on the left side. The fourth and fifth classes wear the badge on the left breast, from a ribbon i i in. wide, medal-fashion in the case of men, from a bow in the case of women.