WW1 CASED ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE COMMANDER MEDAL SET MILITARY AWARD C.B.E. 1st TYPE

Description

Offered is an original First World War era Commander Grade of the Order of the British Empire – Military Award.

Features a 62mm wide silver-gilt and pale blue enamel cross patonce on Tudor crown suspension; the face with a circular central silver-gilt medallion imposed with the portrait of Britannia seated, her left arm extended, a radiant sun above right, within a red enamel ring inscribed ‘FOR GOD AND THE EMPIRE’; the reverse silver-gilt with a circular central medallion with the crowned cipher of King and Emperor George V within a rope border; on correct wide carmine & red striped coloured silken neck ribbon. Comes in the original Garrard’s dark purple leatherette award case with gilt embossed monogram.

The Order was instituted by King George V on 4 June 1917 in five grades to acknowledge the service of non-combatants during wartime. In 1918 the Order was divided into Civil and Military divisions. This example is of the first type with Britannia on the face; since 1935, the Order has had the head and shoulders portraits of King George V and Queen Mary facing left on the face. Today the Order is awarded for distinguished service in any sphere of activity and honorary awards may be made to foreigners.