Offered is an original cased Military Grade of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath medal & badge set (K.C.B.).
58mm wide magnificent silver-gilt and white enamel Maltese cross with ball-tipped finials, with a silver-gilt lion between each of the arms and with leaf-decorated fan and eyelet between the upper arms with ribbed ring for neck ribbon suspension; the face with a circular central white enamel medallion imposed bearing a gilt sceptre from which issue a rose (for England), a thistle (for Scotland) and a shamrock (for Ireland), red-enamel-lined gilt crowns above and to left and right below, within a red enamel ring inscribed in gilt letters ‘TRIA JUNCTA IN UNO’ (three joined in one) within a green enamel and silver-gilt laurel wreath with amber and orange berries, a blue enamel ribbon below inscribed in gilt letters ‘ICH DIEN’ (I Serve), a gilt outline to each arm panel; the reverse identical; on correct full neck ribbon with hook and eye fastenings; with requisite thin full neck ribbon.
75mm wide cross pattee, with the three crowns and motto in the centre in gilt letters ‘TRIA JUNCTA IN UNO’ (three joined in one) within a green enamel and silver-gilt laurel wreath with amber and orange berries, a blue enamel ribbon below inscribed in gilt letters ‘ICH DIEN’ (I Serve). Fine chiselled metallic stones to cross, retaining large pin & catch to rear.
Both medal & badge are housed in their original fitted embossed (K.C.B. MILY) leatherette award case of issue by Collingwood Ltd of Conduit Street, London, jewellers by appointment to Her Majesty the Queen.
The Order was instituted by King George I on 18 May 1725 and restructured in 1815 when the numbers of members increased and again in 1847 when a civil division was added. Membership is limited to citizens of the United Kingdom and of other Commonwealth countries of which the monarch is sovereign, though honorary awards may be made to prominent foreigners. The statutes limit membership (other than honorary awards to foreigners) to 120 Knights or Dames Grand Cross (G.C.B.), 355 Knights Commander (K.C.B.) or Dames Commander (D.C.B.) and 1,925 Companions (C.B.). Appointments to Membership the Military Division are limited to senior serving officers. Appointments as Knight or Dame Grand Cross (G.C.B.) must be of the rank of at least Rear Admiral, Major General or Air Vice Marshal, to Knight Commander (K.C.B.) or Dame Commander (D.C.B.) of Captain in the Royal Navy, Colonel or Group Captain and Companions (C.B.) of Lieutenant Commander, Major or Squadron Leader and to have been mentioned in despatches whilst in a command role in combat. The appointment of non-line officers to Membership of the Order may only be made for service in combat. A superb & desireable Military grade example.
