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The Most Honourable Order of the Bath

G.C.B. K.C.B. C.B.

The Order has a civil and a military division and it is awarded for service of the highest order (in wartime it is awarded to Senior Officers who must have been mentioned in dispatches). The Order was founded during the time of the Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole. The title of the order was derived from the ancient ritual of bathing or cleansing which was symbolic of washing away any impurities before admission to the Order.

It is a three class order:

The first two grades confer Knighthood and the right to bear the title "Sir". Canadians cannot receive knighthoods after 22 May 1919 (except for a brief period around 1933).

Badge:
MILITARY A gold Maltese cross of eight points, enamelled white, each point tipped with a gold ball, and in each angle between the arms of the cross a gold lion. The central device consists of the rose, thistle, and shamrock issuing from a spectre and three crowns. Surrounding the central device is a blue enamel scroll with ICH DIEN in gold.
CIVIL An oval badge with the motto and in the centre, the rose, thistle, and shamrock issuing from a sceptre and the three crowns.
Total:
G.C.B. 2 military and 2 civil
K.C.B. 20 military and 5 civil
C.B. 125 military and 25 civil

Examples

LGen. A.W. Currie, KCB, KCMG

AVM McEwen, C.B., M.C. DFC

AM R. Leckie, CB, DSO, DSC, DFC.

The George Cross
The Distinguished Service Order

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