Wikipedia: British and Commonwealth orders and decorations

British and Commonwealth orders and decorations
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

This article concerns British and Commonwealth orders and decorations awarded by the British Sovereign.

United Kingdom

In order of precedence:

Victoria Cross (VC)
George Cross (GC)
Most Noble Order of the Garter (KG)
Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle (KT)
Most Illustrious Order of St. Patrick (KP)
Knights Grand Cross in The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (GCB)
Order of Merit (OM)
Baronet's Badge
Knight Grand Commander in The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India (GCSI)
Knights Grand Cross in The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (GCMG)
Knight Grand Commander in The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE)
The Order of the Crown of India (CI)
Knights Grand Cross in The Royal Victoria Order (GVCO)
Knight (or Dame) Grand Cross in The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (GBE)
Order of the Companions of Honour (CH)
Knight (or Dame) Commander in The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (KCB or DCB)
Knight Commander in The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India (KCSI)
Knight (or Dame) Commander in The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (KCMG or DCMG)
Knight Commander in The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE)
Knight Commander in The Royal Victorian Order (KCVO)
Knight (or Dame) Commander in The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE or DBE)
Knight Bachelor's Badge (KB)
Companion in The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB)
Companion in The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India (CSI)
Companion in The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (CMG)
Companion in The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire (CIE)
Commander in The Royal Victorian Order (CVO)
Commander in The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Lieutenant in The Royal Victorian Order (LVO)
Officer in The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE)
Imperial Service Order (ISO)
Member in The Royal Victorian Order (MVO)
Member in The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Indian Order of Merit (Military) (IOM)
Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC)
Royal Red Cross (Class One) (RRC)
Distinguished Service Cross (DSC)
Military Cross (MC)
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Air Force Cross (AFC)
Royal Red Cross (Class Two) (ARRC)
Order of British India (OBI)
Kaisar-I-Hind Medal
Order of St. John
Union of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery (Gold)
Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM)
George Medal (GM)
Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry (QPM)
Queen's Fire Service Medal for Gallantry (QFSM)
Royal West African Frontier Force Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)
King's African Rifles Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)
Indian Distinguished Service Medal (ISDM)
Union of South Africa Queen's Medal for Bravery (Silver)
Distinguished Service Medal (DSM)
Military Medal (MM)
Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM)
Air Force Medal (AFM)
Royal Ulster Constabulary Medal
Medal for Saving Life at Sea
Indian Order of Merit (Civil) (IOM)
Indian Police Medal for Gallantry
Ceylon Police Medal for Gallantry
Sierra Leone Police Medal for Gallantry
Colonial Police Medal for Gallantry
Queen's Gallantry Medal (QGM)
Royal Victorian Medal (RVM)
British Empire Medal (BEM)
Canada Medal (CM or M DU C)
Queen's Police Medal for Distinguished Service (QPM)
Queen's Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service (QFSM)
Queen's Medal for Chiefs
British Campaign Medals
Polar Medals
Imperial Service Medal (ISM)
Police medals for valuable service
Jubilee, Coronation and Durbar medals
Efficiency and long service medals.
Commonwealth orders, decorations and medals
Non-Commonwealth orders, decorations and medals

Canada

Canadian orders and decorations are listed in order of precedence:

Victoria Cross (V.C.)
Cross of Valour (C.V.)
Companion of the Order of Canada (C.C.)
Officer of the Order of Canada (O.C.)
Member of the Order of Canada (C.M.)
Commander of the Order of Military Merit (C.M.M.)
Commander of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces (C.O.M.)
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (C.V.O.)
Officer of the Order of Military Merit (O.M.M.)
Officer of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces (O.O.M.)
Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (L.V.O.)
Member of the Order of Military Merit (M.M.M.)
Member of the Order of Merit of the Police Forces (M.O.M.)
Member of the Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.)
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem (all grades)

(post-nominal letters only for internal use by the Order of St. John)

Provincial Orders
Star of Military Valour (S.M.V.)
Star of Courage (S.C.)
Meritorious Service Cross (M.S.C.)
Medal of Military Valour (M.M.V.)
Medal of Bravery (M.B.)
Meritorious Service Medal (M.S.M.)
Royal Victorian Medal (R.V.M.)
War and Operational Service Medals
Special Service Medals
United Nations Medals
International Commission and Organization Medals
Commemorative Medals
Long Service and Good Conduct Medals
Exemplary Service Medals
Special Medals
Certain Other Decorations and Medals

Commonwealth decorations, followed by foreign decorations, rank within each category after Canadian medals. For full lists of medals and for the relative precedence of British decorations issued to Canadians before 1 June 1972, see external link:

Canadian Orders, Decorations and Medals - Precedence

Australia

Australian decorations in capitals, in order of precedence

VICTORIA CROSS VC
George Cross GC
CROSS OF VALOUR CV
KNIGHT/LADY OF THE GARTER KG/LG
KNIGHT/LADY OF THE THISTLE KT/LT
Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath GCB
ORDER OF MERIT OM
KNIGHT/DAME OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA AK/AD
Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George GCMG
KNIGHT/DAME GRAND CROSS OF THE ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER GCVO
Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire GBE
COMPANION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA AC
Companion of Honour CH
Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath KCB/DCB
Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George KCMG/DCMG
KNIGHT/DAME COMMANDER OF THE ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER KCVO/DCVO
Knight/Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire KBE/DBE
Knight Bachelor (NB: Confers title of ?Sir? - no postnominals)
OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA AO
Companion of the Order of the Bath CB
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George CMG
COMMANDER OF THE ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER CVO
Commander of the Order of the British Empire CBE
STAR OF GALLANTRY SG
STAR OF COURAGE SC
Companion of the Distinguished Service Order DSO
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS DSC
MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA AM
LIEUTENANT OF THE ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER LVO
Officer of the Order of the British Empire OBE
Companion of the Imperial Service Order ISO
MEMBER OF THE ROYAL VICTORIAN ORDER MVO
Member of the Order of the British Empire MBE
CONSPICUOUS SERVICE CROSS CSC
NURSING SERVICE CROSS NSC
Royal Red Cross (1st Class) RRC
Distinguished Service Cross DSC
Military Cross MC
Distinguished Flying Cross DFC
Air Force Cross AFC
Royal Red Cross (2nd Class) ARRC
MEDAL FOR GALLANTRY MG
BRAVERY MEDAL BM
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL DSM
PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL PSM
AUSTRALIAN POLICE MEDAL APM
AUSTRALIAN FIRE SERVICE MEDAL AFSM
AMBULANCE SERVICE MEDAL ASM
EMERGENCY SERVICES MEDAL ESM
MEDAL OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA OAM
ORDER OF ST JOHN
Distinguished Conduct Medal DCM
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal CGM
George Medal GM
CONSPICUOUS SERVICE MEDAL CSM
AUSTRALIAN ANTARCTIC MEDAL AAM
Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry QPM
Queen's Fire Service Medal for Gallantry QFSM
Distinguished Service Medal DSM
Military Medal MM
Distinguished Flying Medal DFM
Air Force Medal AFM
Queen's Gallantry Medal QGM
ROYAL VICTORIAN MEDAL RVM
British Empire Medal BEM
Queen's Police Medal for Distinguished Service QPM
Queen's Fire Service Medal for Distinguished Service QFSM
COMMENDATION FOR GALLANTRY
COMMENDATION FOR BRAVE CONDUCT
Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct
COMMENDATION FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICE
War medals, campaign medals, active service medals and service medals
POLICE OVERSEAS SERVICE MEDAL
HUMANITARIAN OVERSEAS SERVICE MEDAL
CIVILIAN SERVICE MEDAL 1939-1945
Polar Medal
Imperial Service Medal
Coronation, Jubilee, Remembrance and Commemorative medals
DEFENCE FORCE SERVICE MEDAL
RESERVE FORCE DECORATION RFD
RESERVE FORCE MEDAL
DEFENCE LONG SERVICE MEDAL
NATIONAL MEDAL
AUSTRALIAN CADET FORCES SERVICE MEDAL
CHAMPION SHOTS MEDAL
Long Service Medals
ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONAL SERVICE 1951-1972 MEDAL
Independence and Anniversary Medals, (in order of date of receipt)
Foreign Awards, (in order of date of authorisation of their acceptance and wearing)

External link:

Order of Wearing Australian Orders, Decorations and Medals

New Zealand

In order of precedence:

Victoria Cross V.C.
New Zealand Cross N.Z.C.
George Cross G.C.
Knight or Lady of the Order of the Garter K.G./L.G.
Knight or Lady of the Order of the Thistle K.T./L.T.
Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath G.C.B.
Member of the Order of Merit O.M.
Member of the Order of New Zealand O.N.Z.
Baronet's Badge (Bt. or Bart.)
Principal Companion & Knight or Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit P.C.N.Z.M. & G.N.Z.M.
Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George G.C.M.G.
Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victoria Order G.C.V.O.
Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire G.B.E.
Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour C.H.
Distinguished Companion & Knight or Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit D.C.N.Z.M. & K.N.Z.M./D.N.Z.M.
Knight or Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath K.C.B./D.C.B.
Knight or Dame Commander of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George K.C.M.G./D.C.M.G.
Knight or Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order K.C.V.O./D.C.V.O.
Knight or Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire K.B.E./D.B.E.
Knight Bachelor's Badge -
Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit C.N.Z.M.
Companion of the Order of the Bath C.B.
Companion of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George C.M.G.
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order C.V.O.
Commander of the Order of the British Empire C.B.E.
New Zealand Gallantry Star N.Z.G.S.
New Zealand Bravery Star N.Z.B.S.
Companion of the Distinguished Service Order D.S.O.
Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order L.V.O.
Companion of the Queen's Service Order Q.S.O.
Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit O.N.Z.M.
Officer of the Order of the British Empire O.B.E.
Companion of the Imperial Service Order I.S.O.
Member of the Royal Victorian Order M.V.O.
Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit M.N.Z.M.
Distinguished Service Order
Member of the Order of the British Empire M.B.E.
New Zealand Gallantry Decoration N.Z.G.D.
New Zealand Bravery Decoration N.Z.B.D.
Royal Red Cross (class 1)
Distinguished Service Cross D.S.C.
Military Cross M.C.
Distinguished Flying Cross D.F.C.
Air Force Cross A.F.C.
Royal Red Cross (class 2) A.R.R.C.
Order Of St John (6 Grades)
Distinguished Conduct Medal D.C.M.
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal C.G.M.
George Medal G.M.
Distinguished Service Medal D.S.M.
Military Medal M.M.
Distinguished Flying Medal D.F.M.
Air Force Medal A.F.M.
Queen?s Gallantry Medal Q.G.M.
New Zealand Gallantry Medal N.Z.G.M.
New Zealand Bravery Medal N.Z.B.M.
Royal Victorian Medal R.V.M.
Queen?s Service Medal Q.S.M.
British Empire Medal B.E.M.
Queen?s Police Medal for distinguished service Q.P.M.
Queens Fire Service Medal for distinguished service Q.F.S.M.
Campaign (including war, operational, peacekeeping) and special service medals
Polar medals
Jubilee, Coronation and New Zealand commemoration medals
Efficiency and long service awards
Commonwealth honours
Foreign honours

External link:

New Zealand Honours - Order of Wear

Knighthood is no longer awarded in New Zealand.

	Wikipedia: British and Commonwealth orders and decorations