- Time Period: Interwar Period
- Year of Institution: June 1917
- Country: Great Britain
The Order of the Companions of Honor is an order of the Commonwealth realms founded on 4 June 1917 by King George V as a reward for outstanding achievements. The Chapel Royal at Hampton Court is now the Chapel of the Order.
The order was initially designed to be bestowed upon a select group of individuals for whom this unique distinction was deemed the most fitting form of recognition, separate from any acceptance of titles or merit classifications. The decoration is now described as “awarded for having a major contribution to the arts, science, medicine, or government lasting over a long period of time“, the first recipients were all decorated for “services in connection with the war“.
The inaugural recipients of this order were honored for their services related to the war, and their names were published in The London Gazette.
The Order's Award Criteria
Today, the Order of the Companions of Honor is awarded to those who have made a significant contribution to the arts, science, medicine, or government over an extended period.
It’s “conferred upon a limited number of persons for whom this special distinction seems to be the most appropriate form of recognition, constituting an honor disassociated either from the acceptance of title or the classification of merit.”
The order consists of the Sovereign and a maximum 65 members. Appointments to the order are typically made based on recommendations from the prime ministers of the Commonwealth realms. Foreigners or Commonwealth citizens from outside the Commonwealth realms may be added as honorary members.
The Order of the Companions of Honor Design
The badge of the Order is struck in silver in the form of an oval medallion measuring 48 millimeters high and 29 millimeters wide. It’s surmounted by an imperial crown with a rectangular panel within, depicting on it an oak tree, a shield with the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom hanging from one branch, and, on the left, a mounted knight in armor.
The insignia’s blue border bears, in the obverse and in gold letters the motto IN ACTION FAITHFUL AND IN HONOUR CLEAR, Alexander Pope‘s description in his Epistle to Mr Addison of James Craggs. The oval is surmounted by an imperial crown.
Men wear the badge on a neck ribbon (red with golden border threads) and women on a bow at the left shoulder. The ribbon measures 38 millimeters and is carmine with borders of gold thread.
