"وسام القائد الشرفي"

من جلالة ملكة بريطانيا العظمى

 

GREAT BRITAIN

THE MOST HONOURABLE ORDER OF THE BATH (KCB)

The Order was founded in 1725 during the time of the then Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole. It was originally formed of one class only with the recipient's being titled Knights of the Bath (KB).

This strange title derives from the ancient ritual of bathing or cleansing being symbolic of washing away any impurities before admission to the Order.

In 1815, at the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars, the Prince Regent (later King George IV) found it necessary to award many distinguished Officers of both the Navy and Army. Consequently the Order was enlarged by creating two divisions, one for Military personnel and one for Civilians. The Military Division was further enlarged into three classes. The Civil Division was also enlarged to three classes in 1847.

Classes ‑ 1^st Class ‑ Knight Grand Cross (GCB)

                2^nd Class ‑ Knight Commander (KCB)

                3^rd Class ‑ Companion (CB)

The motto of the Order is, "Tria juncta in uno", three joined in one, representing England, Scotland and Ireland.

Badge ‑ Gold rimmed, white enamel eight pointed cross; each point tipped with a gold ball. Within each of the four arms of the cross appears a gold lion. The centre disc consists of three gold crowns separated by a Rose, Thistle and a Shamrock. A red enamel band surrounds this with the motto "Triajuncta in uno " in gold letters. This in turn is surrounded by a green enamel laurel wreath, with the Latin inscription "ICH DIEN" (I serve) in gold on a blue enamel scroll underneath.

Star ‑ A central disc consisting of three gold crowns, surrounded by a red enamel border containing the motto, "Tria juncta in uno ", in gold letters. This is surrounded by a green enamel laurel wreath, with the inscription, "ICH DIEN", in Latin. The whole is overlaid onto a silver, four armed star.

Ribbon ‑ Maroon.

How to wear ‑ The Badge is hung around the neck suspended from a tailored riband. The Star is pinned onto the left breast.

VIP recipients ‑ HRH Prince Khalid bin Sultan Abdul Aziz, awarded the Knight Commander Class.

General Sir Peter de la Billiére.

General Norman Schwarzkopf.

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