A BACKGROUND TO THE NEWS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 84, 3 January 1935, Page 5

A BACKGROUND TO THE NEWS

Titles of Honour New Year’s Day and the King’s Birthday are the two occasions on which honours are bestowed on notable people of the British Empire by the King. K.G. The origin of The Most Noble Order of the Garter (K.G.) is obscure. The commonly accented date of the institution of the Order is August, 1348, or thereabouts, its founder being Edward 111. The story of its origin is that Edward’s own Queen dropped her garter, and uttered the famous words, “Honi soit qui mal v pense,” upon his picking it up, in response to his rally as to what would be thought of her for thus losing her garter in public. The further incident is added that Edward then placed the garter round his own knee by way of rebuke to those who “saw harm” in it, and that the occurrence thus grew famous, and the garter came to be the battle cry at Crecy. The Order itself may be said to rank indisputably as the first in the world, and the number of foreign sovereigns who have accepted it is almost count- i less. It is limited to 25 Knight Companions with the Sovereign, the Prince of Wales, and other members of the Royal Family, and such, extra knights aud foreign rulers and dignitaries as may be admitted by special statute. A Knight of the Garter is, at his investiture. allotted a stall in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor, over which are set up, to be retained throughout his life, his sword, helmet, crest, banner, and a plate containing his arms and titles.

G.C.8.; K.C.8.; C.B.

The Most Honorable Order of the Bath is by far the largest of the Orders of Knighthood, and the highest in honour of those to which commoners can hope to attain. It was evidently taken from an initiatory ceremony of bathing, and is believed to date from 1399. As a rule, though not without frequent exceptions, recipients of this Order must begin with the lowest class, or Companions (C. 8. and proceed, to Knights Commanders (K.C.8.), before they can become Grand Crosses (G.C.8.). The Military Division of even the lowest rank is only conferred upon such distinction in action against the enemy as shall procure a special mention in dispatches, or else upon meritorious service in the Medical, Engineer, Pay, or Indian departments ; it is never granted to any officer of lower grade than that of major in the Army, or commander in the Navy. The first two classes have also the designation of “Sir” before their names. G.C.M.G.; K.C.M.G.; C.M.G. The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George was established in 1818 to commemorate the placing of the lonian Islands under the protectorate of Great Britain. It was limited at first to natives of these islands and of Malta, and to “such other subjects of his Majesty as may hold high and confidential situations in the Mediterranean.” It has come to be assignable to any person who has rendered valuable services in either colonial or foreign affairs. There are three classes of the order: Companions (C.M.G.); Knights Commanders (K.C.M.G.); Knights Grand Cross (G.C.M.G.). The first two classes have also the designation “Sir” before their names. G.C.V.0.; K.C.V.0.; C.V.0.; M.V.O. The Royal Victorian Order, which dates from 1896, was designed as a recognition of personal services to Queen Victoria, but since her decease it has been enormously increased in numbers. It comprises no fewer than five classes. The two highest, Knights Grand Crosses (G.C.V.0.) and Knights Commanders , (K.C.V.0.), are entitled to have “Sir” placed before their names. The letters for the third class, Commanders, are C.V.0., and for the fourth and fifth classes, Members Fourth Class and Members Fifth Class, M.V.O. G.8.E.; K.8.E.; C.8.E.; 0.8. E.; M.B.E. The Most- Excellent Order of the British Empire was instituted on June 4, 1917, in the third year of the Great War. It was primarily designed as a recognition of the manifold services rendered by civilians, voluntary and otherwise, in connection with the war. The Order ranks next to, and immediately after, the Royal Victorian Order, and is open to men and women alike. The first two classes, in the case of men, carry the honour of knighthood (prefix “Sir”), and, in the case of women, the privilege of prefixing the title “Dame” to their names. The Order is divided into five classes, and (from December, 1918) with Military and Civil Divisions to each as follow: Men: Knights Grand Cross (G.8.E.); Knights Commanders (K.8.E.); Commanders (C.8.E.); Officers (0.8. E. Members (M.8.E.). Women: Dames Grand Cross (G.8.E.); Dames Commanders (D.8.E.). The letters for the other three classes are the same as for the men. KNIGHTS BACHELOR In strict terms Knights Bachelor do not constitute an “order,”-though the phrase “the order of knighthood” -is used as including all knights whatsoever. The more ancient class of knights were known simply as “knights” or equltes aura.ti; “bachelors” (milites bacchilarii) were at first not knights at all, and seem to have stood much in the position of our modern “companions.” It is usually held that the word “bachelor” in this usage is a corruption of “bas chevalier,” as implying a. lower rank of knights thau those who received the honour under the royal banner. . The designation of a Knight Bachelor is the simple prefix “Sir”; it is permissible to add “Knight” or “Kt.”, but this is not usual except in formal style, and in any case K.B. should not be used, those letters being the old style for “Knights of the Bath.” ORDER OF MERIT King Edward VII instituted the Order of Merit which, while conferring no precedence, yet authorises the holders to place its designating initials (0.M.) next after those denoting membership of the Order of the Bath. It is designed as a special distinction for men eminent in any department whatever—war, science, literature or art. — but it carries with it no special title. The Order is limited in numbers to 24, with the addition of foreign Honorary Members. ROYAL VICTORIAN CHAIN The Royal Victorian Chain was founded by King Edward VII in 1902. • It has no connection with the Royal Victorian Order, is bestowed only on special occasions, and confers no precedence on its holders. (To be concluded.)