The order was originally intended to be conferred upon a limited number of persons for whom this special distinction seemed to be the most appropriate form of recognition, constituting an honour dissociated from either the acceptance of title or the classification of merit.[1] It is now described as being "awarded for having a major contribution to the arts, science, medicine, or government lasting over a long period of time".[3] The first recipients of the order were all decorated for "services in connection with the war" and were listed in The London Gazette.[4]
The order consists of the monarch of the Commonwealth realms, who is the Sovereign of the Order of the Companions of Honour, and a maximum of 65 members. Additionally, foreigners or Commonwealth citizens from outside the Commonwealth realms may be added as honorary members. Members are organised into a single class and are appointed by the monarch of the Commonwealth realms in their capacity as sovereign of the order. While membership of the order confers no title or precedence, those inducted into the order are entitled to use the post-nominal lettersCH.
Appointments to the order are generally made on the advice of prime ministers of the Commonwealth realms.[2] For Canadians, the advice to the Sovereign can come from a variety of officials.[5] Originally, the order was limited to 50 ordinary members, but in 1943 it was enlarged to 65, with a quota of 45 members for the United Kingdom, seven for Australia, two each for New Zealand and South Africa, and nine for India, Burma, and the other British colonies. The quota numbers were altered in 1970 to 47 for the United Kingdom, seven for Australia, two for New Zealand, and nine for other Commonwealth realms. The quota was adjusted again in 1975 by adding two places to the New Zealand quota and reducing the nine for the other countries to seven.[6]
Whilst still able to nominate candidates to the order, the Cabinet of Australia has effectively stopped the allocation of this award to that country's citizens in preference to other Australian honours. The last Australian member, Doug Anthony, former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, died on 20 December 2020.[7] Companions from other Commonwealth realms continue to be appointed, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, a New Zealand soprano, was given the award in 2018 and Canadian author Margaret Atwood was given the award in 2019.
The insignia of the order is in the form of an oval medallion, surmounted by a royal crown (but, until recently, surmounted by an imperial crown), and 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 armour. The insignia's blue border bears in gold letters the motto IN ACTION FAITHFUL AND IN HONOUR CLEAR, Alexander Pope's description (in iambic pentameter) in his Epistle to Mr Addison of James Craggs, later used on Craggs's monument in Westminster Abbey. Men wear the badge on a neck ribbon (red with golden border threads) and women on a bow at the left shoulder.
^McCreery, Christopher (2005a). The Canadian Honours System. Toronto: Dundurn Press. p. 100. ISBN978-1-55002-554-5.
^Rayment, Leigh. . Archived from the original on 26 September 2008. Retrieved 7 December 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^Barbour, Lucy (20 December 2020). "Doug Anthony, former Nationals leader and deputy prime minister, dies aged 90". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
^"Coronation order of service in full". BBC News. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
February 16, 2024
order, companions, honour, order, commonwealth, realms, founded, june, 1917, king, george, reward, outstanding, achievements, founded, same, date, order, british, empire, order, thecompanions, honourbadge, ribbon, orderawarded, charles, iiitypeorderestablished. The Order of the Companions of Honour is an order of the Commonwealth realms It was founded on 4 June 1917 by King George V as a reward for outstanding achievements It was founded on the same date as the Order of the British Empire 1 2 Order of theCompanions of HonourBadge and ribbon of the orderAwarded by Charles IIITypeOrderEstablished4 June 1917MottoIn Action Faithful and in Honour ClearEligibilityAll living citizens of the Commonwealth realmsCriteriaNationally important serviceStatusCurrently constitutedFounderGeorge VSovereignCharles IIIGradesMember CH Ribbon bar of the orderThe order was originally intended to be conferred upon a limited number of persons for whom this special distinction seemed to be the most appropriate form of recognition constituting an honour dissociated from either the acceptance of title or the classification of merit 1 It is now described as being awarded for having a major contribution to the arts science medicine or government lasting over a long period of time 3 The first recipients of the order were all decorated for services in connection with the war and were listed in The London Gazette 4 Contents 1 Composition 2 Insignia 3 Current members 3 1 Honorary members 4 See also 5 Notes 6 ReferencesComposition edit nbsp Lord Tweedsmuir as Governor General of Canada wearing the Order of the Companions of Honour badge around his neck The order consists of the monarch of the Commonwealth realms who is the Sovereign of the Order of the Companions of Honour and a maximum of 65 members Additionally foreigners or Commonwealth citizens from outside the Commonwealth realms may be added as honorary members Members are organised into a single class and are appointed by the monarch of the Commonwealth realms in their capacity as sovereign of the order While membership of the order confers no title or precedence those inducted into the order are entitled to use the post nominal letters CH Appointments to the order are generally made on the advice of prime ministers of the Commonwealth realms 2 For Canadians the advice to the Sovereign can come from a variety of officials 5 Originally the order was limited to 50 ordinary members but in 1943 it was enlarged to 65 with a quota of 45 members for the United Kingdom seven for Australia two each for New Zealand and South Africa and nine for India Burma and the other British colonies The quota numbers were altered in 1970 to 47 for the United Kingdom seven for Australia two for New Zealand and nine for other Commonwealth realms The quota was adjusted again in 1975 by adding two places to the New Zealand quota and reducing the nine for the other countries to seven 6 Whilst still able to nominate candidates to the order the Cabinet of Australia has effectively stopped the allocation of this award to that country s citizens in preference to other Australian honours The last Australian member Doug Anthony former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia died on 20 December 2020 7 Companions from other Commonwealth realms continue to be appointed Dame Kiri Te Kanawa a New Zealand soprano was given the award in 2018 and Canadian author Margaret Atwood was given the award in 2019 Sebastian Coe CH represented the Order at the 2023 Coronation 8 Insignia editThe insignia of the order is in the form of an oval medallion surmounted by a royal crown but until recently surmounted by an imperial crown and 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 armour The insignia s blue border bears in gold letters the motto IN ACTION FAITHFUL AND IN HONOUR CLEAR Alexander Pope s description in iambic pentameter in his Epistle to Mr Addison of James Craggs later used on Craggs s monument in Westminster Abbey Men wear the badge on a neck ribbon red with golden border threads and women on a bow at the left shoulder Current members editSovereign King Charles IIIMembernumber n 1 Name Post nominals Current or former occupation Date of appointment Age1 267 nbsp The Lord Tebbit CH PC Politician 31 July 1987 922 270 nbsp The Lord Baker of Dorking CH PC Politician 13 April 1992 893 278 nbsp The Lord King of Bridgwater CH PC Politician 13 April 1992 904 282 nbsp Dame Janet Baker CH DBE Opera singer 31 December 1993 905 287 nbsp The Lord Owen CH PC Politician 11 June 1994 856 289 nbsp Sir David Attenborough OM GCMG CH CVO CBE FRS FSA FRSA FLS FZS FRSGS FRSB Broadcaster naturalist 30 December 1995 977 291 nbsp The Lord Hurd of Westwell CH CBE PC Politician 30 December 1995 938 294 nbsp David Hockney OM CH Artist 14 June 1997 869 296 nbsp The Lord Heseltine CH PC Politician 2 August 1997 9010 297 nbsp The Lord Patten of Barnes KG CH PC Politician former Governor of Hong Kong 31 December 1997 7911 299 nbsp Sir John Major KG CH PC Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom 31 December 1998 8012 300 nbsp Bridget Riley CH CBE Artist 31 December 1998 9213 305 nbsp John de Chastelain CC CMM CH CD Canadian Army officer diplomat 31 December 1998 8614 317 nbsp Dan McKenzie CH FRS Geophysicist 14 June 2003 8115 318 nbsp The Lord Hannay of Chiswick GCMG CH Diplomat 14 June 2003 7816 320 nbsp Dame Judi Dench CH DBE Actress 11 June 2005 8917 321 nbsp Sir Ian McKellen CH CBE Actor 31 December 2007 8418 323 nbsp The Lord Howard of Lympne CH PC KC Politician 11 June 2011 8219 324 nbsp The Lord Young of Cookham CH PC Politician 20 September 2012 8220 325 nbsp The Lord Coe CH KBE Hon FRIBA Politician athlete organiser of 2012 Olympics 29 December 2012 6721 326 nbsp Peter Higgs CH FRS Physicist 29 December 2012 9422 327 nbsp The Lord Strathclyde CH PC Politician 7 January 2013 6323 328 nbsp The Lord Campbell of Pittenweem CH CBE PC KC Politician 15 June 2013 8224 329 nbsp Sir Nicholas Serota CH Curator 15 June 2013 7725 331 nbsp The Baroness O Neill of Bengarve CH CBE FBA FRS FMedSci Philosopher 31 December 2013 8226 332 nbsp Dame Maggie Smith CH DBE Actress 14 June 2014 8927 333 nbsp The Lord Clarke of Nottingham CH PC KC Politician 22 July 2014 8328 336 nbsp Lady Mary Peters LG CH DBE DStJ Athlete 1 January 2015 8429 339 nbsp The Lord Woolf CH PC FBA FMedSci Judge 12 June 2015 9030 341 nbsp Sir Roy Strong CH FRSL Art historian museum director 1 January 2016 8831 343 nbsp The Lord Smith of Kelvin KT CH Businessman 11 June 2016 7932 344 nbsp The Baroness Amos LG CH PC Politician diplomat 11 June 2016 6933 345 nbsp George Osborne CH Politician former Chancellor of the Exchequer 4 August 2016 5234 347 nbsp Sir Richard Eyre CH CBE Director 31 December 2016 8035 348 nbsp Dame Evelyn Glennie CH DBE Musician 31 December 2016 5836 349 nbsp Sir Alec Jeffreys CH FRS Geneticist 31 December 2016 7437 353 nbsp Sir Mark Elder CH CBE Conductor 17 June 2017 7638 355 nbsp Sir Paul McCartney CH MBE Musician 17 June 2017 8139 356 nbsp J K Rowling CH OBE Author 17 June 2017 5840 357 nbsp Dame Stephanie Shirley CH DBE FREng Entrepreneur philanthropist 17 June 2017 9041 358 nbsp Delia Smith CH CBE Cook author 17 June 2017 8242 359 nbsp The Lord Stern of Brentford CH FRS FBA Economist 17 June 2017 7743 361 nbsp The Lord Bragg CH FRS FBA FRSL Broadcaster 30 December 2017 8444 362 nbsp Lady Antonia Fraser CH DBE FRSL Author 30 December 2017 9145 363 nbsp Margaret MacMillan OM CC CH Historian 30 December 2017 8046 364 nbsp Richard Henderson CH FRS FMedSci Biologist 9 June 2018 7847 365 nbsp Dame Kiri Te Kanawa ONZ CH DBE AC Opera singer 9 June 2018 7948 366 nbsp Margaret Atwood CC OOnt CH FRSC FRSL Author 29 December 2018 8449 367 nbsp The Lord McLoughlin CH PC Politician 10 September 2019 6650 368 nbsp Sir Elton John CH CBE Musician 28 December 2019 7651 369 nbsp Sir Keith Thomas CH FBA FLSW FRHistS Historian 28 December 2019 9152 370 nbsp Sir Paul Smith CH CBE RDI Fashion designer 10 October 2020 7753 371 nbsp Sir David Chipperfield CH CBE RA RDI RIBA Architect 31 December 2020 7054 372 nbsp Sir Paul Nurse OM CH FRS FMedSci HonFREng HonFBA MAE Geneticist 31 December 2021 7555 373 nbsp The Lord Field of Birkenhead CH PC DL Politician 31 December 2021 8156 374 nbsp Sir Quentin Blake CH CBE FCSD FRSL RDI Illustrator 1 June 2022 9157 375 nbsp nbsp Sir Salman Rushdie CH FRSL Writer 1 June 2022 7658 376 nbsp Dame Marina Warner CH DBE FRSL FBA Writer 1 June 2022 7759 377 nbsp Sir Michael Marmot CH FRCP FFPM FMedSci FBA Academic 31 December 2022 7960 378 nbsp Sir Bill Cash CH Politician 9 June 2023 8361 379 nbsp nbsp Sir John Bell GBE CH FMedSci FREng Physician 16 June 2023 7162 380 nbsp Ian McEwan CH CBE FRSA FRSL Writer 16 June 2023 7563 381 nbsp Dame Anna Wintour CH DBE Media executive 16 June 2023 7464 382 nbsp Dame Shirley Bassey CH DBE Singer 29 December 2023 8765 Vacant following the death of The Lord Brooke of Sutton Mandeville on 13 May 2023Honorary members edit Member number Name Post nominals Occupation Date of appointment Age1 261 nbsp Amartya Sen CH FBA Economist 11 May 2000 90See also editList of members of the Order of the Companions of Honour List of honorary British knights and dames List of people who have declined a British honourNotes edit The number shown in brackets is the individual s place in the wider sequence of appointment since the Order s inception References edit a b A New Order The Times 25 August 1917 p 7 a b The Monarch of the Today gt Queen Ann arbor to the new one w public gt Honours gt Companions of Honour Royal gov uk Archived from the original on 23 December 2011 Retrieved 3 December 2011 The honours system Types of honours and awards UK Government 22 August 2016 Retrieved 31 August 2016 No 30250 The London Gazette Supplement 24 August 1917 p 8799 McCreery Christopher 2005a The Canadian Honours System Toronto Dundurn Press p 100 ISBN 978 1 55002 554 5 Rayment Leigh Companions of Honour Archived from the original on 26 September 2008 Retrieved 7 December 2013 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint unfit URL link Barbour Lucy 20 December 2020 Doug Anthony former Nationals leader and deputy prime minister dies aged 90 ABC News Australia Retrieved 20 December 2020 Coronation order of service in full BBC News 5 May 2023 Retrieved 6 May 2023 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Order of the Companions of Honour amp oldid 1204042479, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
