Companion of Honour

Order of the Companions of Honour

Instituted on 4 June 1917 and altered 15 Oct 1919, consists of the Sovereign and not more than 65 Members (exclusive of Hon Members, and certain additional members appointed by special statute in commemoration of special occasions); it may be conferred on persons (women being eligible equally with men) for having done conspicuous national service, and for whom the distinction is deemed the most appropriate form of recognition, constituting as it does an honour dissociated either from acceptance of title or the classification of merit, and carrying with it no title or precedence, but recipients are permitted to put the initials “CH” after their names, these being placed subsequent to the initials “GBE”.

The Badge of the Order is oval, and consists of a gold medallion with representation of an oak tree and pendant from a branch a shield of the Royal Arms; on the dexter a representation of a knight armed and in armour, mounted on a horse, the whole within a circle inscribed with the motto “In action faithful and in honour clear” in letters of gold ensigned with the Imperial Crown proper. Men suspend it around their necks from a carmine riband 1½ inches wide with a bordure interlaced gold; women wear it attached to a similar riband tied in a bow on the left shoulder. It is never worn in miniature, and is not returnable at death. A representation of the Badge may be suspended from an escutcheon of armorial bearings.