Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Statutes of the Order of the British Empire Subject The topic of the resource Honors Description An account of the resource Materials related to the Statutes of the Order of the British Empire. Royal Warrant These can be purely administrative in nature (e.g., Warrants authorizing the use of the Great Seal) or they can be substantive instruments (e.g., Warrants of appointment). They are signed by the Monarch and (usually) countersigned by a Minister of the Crown. Transcript A transcript of the document. GEORGE, R.I. George the Fifth, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India, to all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting! Whereas by Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the said United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster the Fourth day of June, 1917, in the Eighth year of Our Reign, We have thought fit and been pleased to institute, create, and constitute and create an Order of Knighthood, to be called and known for ever hereafter by the name, style, and designation of “The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire,” whereof We, Our Heirs and Successors for ever shall be Sovereigns. And whereas by Our aforesaid Letters Patent, We did ordain that the said Order should be governed by Statutes and Ordinances in such form and manner as should thereafter be ordained and established by Us and sealed by the Great Seal of the said Order which Statutes so sealed and in future to be given shall be held and received as part and parcel of these Presents, as if the same had been made and every Article thereof had been here inserted and recited in these Letters Patent and been confirmed under the Great Seal of Our said United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland: Now Know Ye that in pursuance of the said Letters Patent of the Fourth day of June, 1917, We have made, ordained, and established, and by these Presents, sealed with the Great Seal of the said Order, do make, ordain, and establish the following Statutes and Ordinances which shall from henceforth be inviolably observed and kept, that is to say:— 1. It is ordained and enjoined that this Order of Chivalry shall be styled and designated “The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire” in Our said Letters Patent as directed. It is by no other designation to be called. 2. It is ordained that the said Order shall consist of the Sovereign and a Grand Master and of five several classes, viz.: I. “Knights Grand Cross” and “Dames Grand Cross.” II. “Knights Commanders” and “Dames Commanders.” III. “Commanders.” IV. “Officers.” V. “Members.” 3. It is ordained that We, Our heirs and successors, Kings or Queens Regnant of Our United Kingdom, and for ever shall be Sovereigns of this Order, to whom not only all things belonging, but also interpreting, annulling, augmenting, suspending the same, shall apply as far as these Statutes. 4. We do hereby claim, direct, and appoint that a Prince of the Blood Royal, or such other person as We, Our heirs and successors, shall think fit, shall be Grand Master of the said Order, and shall in virtue of his office preside at all Grand Assemblies of the said Order, which he shall assemble from time to time when commanded so to do by Us, Our heirs and successors, and shall see that all Statutes, Ordinances, Rules, and Regulations are duly observed, and that due obedience is paid to the Sovereign’s commands; and it is further ordained that it shall be competent for the said Grand Master, subject to these our Statutes and Ordinances of the Order, and that he shall likewise direct the said Officers unless Summoned under the Sovereign’s sign manual shall be pleased to command an investiture of the said Most Excellent Order. 5. It is ordained that persons to be admitted to this Order shall be such persons, male or female, as may have rendered or shall hereafter render important services to Our Empire, and that Foreign persons upon whom We may think fit to confer the honour of being received into this Order shall be deemed to be, and described as, honorary Knights Grand Cross, honorary Dames Grand Cross, honorary Knights Commanders or honorary Dames Commanders, honorary Commanders, honorary Officers, and honorary Members, as the case may be. 6. It is ordained that no person shall be admitted into this Order who, being a subject of Our Realm, shall have been convicted of treason or of any infamous crime, or any other crime or offence discreditable to his honour as a gentleman. 7. It is ordained that every Knight Grand Cross of this Most Excellent Order shall be entitled to wear, upon the left shoulder, the badge of the Order suspended from a broad purple riband, and that the wives of Knights Grand Cross of this Order shall be entitled to wear the badge of the Order from a riband fashioned into a bow and worn on the left shoulder; that Dames Grand Cross shall be entitled to wear the badge of the Order from a riband fashioned into a bow and worn on the left shoulder; and that Knights Commanders of this Order shall wear a badge similar in design but smaller in size, pendant from the neck by a purple riband of narrower width; and that the wives of Knights Commanders shall wear a similar badge of smaller size, pendant from a purple riband fashioned into a bow and worn on the left shoulder; and that Dames Commanders shall wear a badge similar in design and size, pendant from a purple riband fashioned into a bow and worn on the left shoulder; that Commanders shall wear a badge of similar design, smaller in size, suspended by a narrow purple riband round the neck; that Officers shall wear a similar badge, still smaller, pendant by a purple riband from the left breast, having in the centre of the badge a representation of Britannia; and that Members shall wear a similar badge of still smaller size, pendant by a purple riband from the left breast. 8. It is ordained that Knights Grand Cross and Dames Grand Cross of this Most Excellent Order shall have place and precedence next to and immediately before the Knights and Dames Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, and may on all occasions use, and enjoy the appellations or style of The Dame for Dames Commanders of this Order before their Christian or first names, that male Commanders of this Order shall have place and precedence next and immediately before the male Members of the Third Class of the Royal Victorian Order, and that Dames Commanders of this Order shall have place and precedence next and immediately before the wives of Knights Commanders of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, and may on all occasions use, and enjoy the appellation and style of Dame before their Christian or first names, that male Officers of this Order shall have place and precedence next and immediately after the Members of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order, and that female Officers of this Order shall have place and precedence next and immediately before the wives of Members of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order, that male Members of this Order shall have place and precedence next and immediately after the Members of the Fifth Class of the Royal Victorian Order, and that female Members of this Order shall have place and precedence next and immediately before the wives of Members of the Fifth Class of the Royal Victorian Order. 9. It is ordained that the Insignia of the Sovereign of this Order shall be of the same material and fashion as the Insignia appropriated for the Knights Grand Cross, save only with those alterations which distinguish Our Royal Dignity. 10. It is ordained that the Knights and Dames Grand Cross of this Most Excellent Order shall upon all great and solemn occasions wear the badge of the Order, which shall consist of a cross patonce, enamelled pearl, surmounted or surcharged by a gold medallion with a representation Britannia seated within a circle inscribed “For God and the Empire,” in letters of gold, ensigned with an Imperial Crown, the whole suspended from a purple riband, the width of three inches and three-quarters, passing from the right shoulder to the left side; that the Star of the Order shall consist of a silver star composed of eight points and charged with a medallion as before. 11. It is ordained that the Knights Commanders of this Order shall wear upon the left breast a silver star of eight points charged with a gold medallion as before, and that Dames Commanders shall wear a badge of similar design and pattern attached to a purple riband fashioned into a bow, and worn on the left shoulder. 12. It is ordained that the Commanders shall in the same manner wear the like riband and badge as Knights Commanders of the Most Excellent Order, but that they shall not be entitled to wear the Star. 13. It is ordained that the Officers shall wear a badge of similar form and pattern as that prescribed for the Members of the Order, composed of a smaller size and silver gilt, attached to a riband of the same colour and pattern of the breadth of one and a half inches, attached to the left breast of their coat or outer garment by means of a buckle, and that it may be worn on the left shoulder, tied in a bow. 14. It is ordained that the Members shall wear in like manner the same riband and badge as appointed to Officers of the Order except that the badge shall be in silver. 15. It is ordained that upon the nomination of any person to be a Knight Grand Cross, Dame Grand Cross, Knight Commander, or Dame Commander of this Order, investiture shall be performed, or may be performed, in Our presence or in the presence of the Sovereign, in person, by the presentation of the ensign and badge appropriate to the several classes of the Order, and that the Insignia of Knights Grand Cross and Dames Grand Cross of this Order shall be returned to the Secretary of the Order upon the decease of the recipient. 16. It is further ordained that it shall be lawful for Us, Our heirs and successors by Warrant under Our Royal Sign Manual or a Manual countersigned by the Grand Master and sealed with the seal of the said Order to nominate and admit any persons into the said Order, and to confer upon them the honour and dignity of the said Order in Our Service or in the Service of Our Allies and that each person so nominated and admitted shall enjoy and exercise all and every the rights and privileges appertaining to this Our Most Excellent Order. 17. It is ordained that on the promotion of a person to a higher class of this Order the Insignia of the class theretofore worn by him or her shall be returned to the Secretary of the Order for the time being, and that on the resignation or decease of an Official of the Order his Badge of Office shall be restored to the service of the Order. 18. It is ordained that Knights Grand Cross and Dames Grand Cross and their respective dependents may be granted the privilege to impale their Arms as supporters to their Arms as are enjoyed by the Knights Grand Cross of Our other Orders of Knighthood. 19. It is ordained that the Seal of the Order shall have engraved thereon a design (that is to say) a representation of Britannia suitably adapted for containing the motto of the Order “For God and the Empire,” and that the Statutes of the Order shall be sealed by and with the same. 20. It is ordained that it shall be competent for Us, Our heirs and successors by an Ordinance signed by the Sovereign and sealed with the Seal of the Order and all appointments of any person to this Order, and thereupon his or her name in the Register shall be erased. But it shall be competent for the Sovereign to restore to the Order any person whose appointment may have been annulled and cancelled when circumstances render it just and expedient. 21. It is ordained that a medal in connection with this Our Most Excellent Order may be awarded to persons, not being members of the said Order, who have rendered conspicuous services without mark of Our Royal appreciation. 22. It is ordained that the medal of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for men and for women shall consist of a circular medal in silver, having on the obverse a representation of Britannia with an inscription of the Order and on the reverse Our Royal and Imperial Cypher, and shall be worn on the left side suspended by a purple riband of one inch and one-eighth or as in inch and a half. 23. It is ordained that it shall be competent for Us, Our heirs and successors by a Warrant under Our Royal Sign Manual to cancel and annul the award of any Medal of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, and that thereupon the name of the recipient shall be erased from the Register but that it shall be competent for the Sovereign to restore the medal to any person whose name may have been erased when circumstances render it just and expedient. 24. It is ordained that the 4th day of May in every year shall be deemed and taken to be the anniversary of the institution of this Order. 25. It is ordained that the following officials shall be appointed to this Order, that is to say,— King of Arms, Registrar and Secretary, Gentleman Usher of the Purple Rod. 26. It is ordained that the King of Arms of this Order shall be nominated by Us, Our heirs and successors, and that he shall assiduously attend the Service of the Order. And further it is ordained that he shall wear about his neck pendant to a purple riband an escutcheon of gold enamelled on a field purpure a representation of Britannia inspiring the Arms of the Sovereign surrounded by the circle and motto of the Order and surmounted by an Imperial Crown. He shall carry the Rod of this Order, which shall be of gold, and two greater supporters the Arms of the Order impaled with those of the Sovereign, and on the lesser square base the Arms of the Order, the whole surmounted by an Imperial Crown; and that he at all Coronations shall precede the Knights Grand Cross and Dames Grand Cross as Our other Kings of Arms are accustomed to do, which badge, rod and crown shall all be of the same materials with those used and borne by Our Garter Principal King of Arms. 27. It is ordained that the Registrar and Secretary shall be appointed by Us, Our heirs and successors, that he shall record all proceedings connected with this Most Excellent Order in a register to be appropriated for that purpose and shall, under the directions of the Grand Master, prepare all Warrants and other instruments to be passed under the Seal of the Order and engross the same, that he shall summon the Knights Grand Cross to attend the Sovereign at all investitures of this Order, that he shall wear around his neck pendant to a purple riband an escutcheon of gold enamelled on a field purpure the badge of the Knights Grand Cross of the Order with two pens saltirewise between the angles in pearl enamel, the whole surmounted by an Imperial Crown. 28. It is ordained that the Gentleman Usher of the Purple Rod of this Most Excellent Order shall be appointed by Us, Our heirs and successors, shall wear around his neck pendant to a purple riband an escutcheon of gold enamelled on a field purpure a circular badge of Britannia surrounded by the circle and motto of the Order and surmounted by an Imperial Crown, and that he shall carry the Purple Rod of the Order, having at the top thereof between the motto of the Order surmounted by a representation of Britannia. 29. It is ordained that all and every of the officials of this Order shall ever and before the said office be specially employed by the foregoing Statutes or directed immediately by the Sovereign or Grand Master as they may please to command touching the interests of the said Order and that all the Officers of Arms, Registrar and Secretary, and Gentleman Usher shall be holden during good behaviour. Lastly.—We reserve to Ourself, Our heirs and successors, full power of annulling, altering, abrogating, augmenting, interpreting or dispensing with these Statutes or Regulations or any part thereof by a notification under the Sign Manual of the Sovereign of the Order. Given at Our Court at St. James’s, the Fourth day of June, 1917, in the Eighth year of Our Reign. <div style="text-align:center;">BY HIS MAJESTY'S COMMAND.</div> <div style="text-align:center;">Geo. Cave.</div> Countersigner The individual who countersigned the Warrant. Sir George Cave (Secretary of State for the Home Department) Seal Affixed Some Warrants bear a seal. Seal of the Order of the British Empire Ornamentation Describe any ornamentation. This text is taken from a Gazette notice and so it may not reflect the formatting of the original. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Royal Warrant - Statutes of the Order of the British Empire [1917-06-04] Subject The topic of the resource Honors Description An account of the resource Royal Warrant of King George V establishing Statutes of the Order of the British Empire. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource King George V Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Recorded in The Gazette (London Gazette), supplement 30250, August 24, 1917, <a href="https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30250/supplement/8791">8791</a>-8794. Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1917-06-04 Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Jason Loch Relation A related resource <a href="https://cbaionline.org/corpus/items/show/214">Royal Warrant for Letters Patent establishing the Order of the British Empire</a> Home Secretary Monarch Order of the British Empire Royal Prerogative Statutes of Chivalric Orders