Order of the British Empire

The Order of the British Empire was created during the First World
War in 1917 by George V. The King recognised the necessity for a
new award of honour which could be more widely awarded, in
recognition of the large numbers of people in the British Isles and
other parts of the Empire who were helping the war effort both as
combatants and as civilians on the home front. For the first time,
women were included in an order of chivalry, and it was decided
that the Order should also include foreigners who had helped the
British war effort. 

From 1918 onwards there were Military and Civil Divisions, as
George V also intended that after the war the Order should be used
to reward services to the State, defined in a much wider sense to
acknowledge distinguished service to the arts and sciences, public
services outside the Civil Service and work with charitable and
welfare organisations of all kinds. The Order of the British Empire
is the order of chivalry of the British democracy. Valuable service
is the only criterion for the award, and the Order is now used to
reward service in a wide range of useful activities. There are more
than 100,000 living members of the Order throughout the world. 

After some debate, St Paul's Cathedral was nominated by a special
committee and approved by The Queen, as the Chapel of the
Order. As the cathedral of the capital city, it could accommodate
services attended by very large congregations, and (in the words of
one committee member) 'St Paul's symbolised the victory of the
British spirit during the war of 1939-45 in that, although badly
damaged and shaken, it survived the ordeal by battle in an almost
miraculous way'. 

A Chapel for the Order was subsequently built in the cathedral
crypt (where Nelson, Wellington and Sir Christopher Wren are
buried, amongst others) and its formal dedication in 1969 was
attended by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh (Grand Master
of the Order). Once every four years, approximately 2,000
members of the Order attend a service there to celebrate the Order.
Many people who have been awarded an honour from overseas
attend these services, and each person attending wears their award. 

The motto of the Order is 'For God and the Empire'.

Order of the British Empire (1917-37 Type)
- Sash Badge. In the centre is a gilt medal
medallion of Britannia, encircled by the
motto FOR GOD AND THE EMPIRE set
in red enamel, and mounted on a silver-gilt
cross patoncé enamelled in translucent pearl
grey. Surmounted by a gilt imperial crown,
the reverse side features George V's cipher
(GRI - George Rex Imperator)