Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

Medal - Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (KCB)

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Overview

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by King George I on 18 May 1725. The star for military Knights and Dames Commander is an eight-pointed silver cross pattée. Each bears in the centre three crowns surrounded by a red ring bearing the motto of the Order in gold letters. The circle is flanked by two laurel branches, and is above a scroll bearing the words Ich dien (older German for 'I serve') in gold letters.
The military badge is a gold Maltese Cross of eight points, enamelled in white. Each point of the cross is decorated by a small gold ball; each angle has a small figure of a lion. The centre of the cross bears three crowns on the obverse side, and a rose, a thistle and a shamrock, emanating from a sceptre on the reverse side. Both emblems are surrounded by a red circular ring bearing the motto of the Order, which are in turn flanked by two laurel branches, above a scroll bearing the words Ich dien in gold letters

Historical information

The name derives from the elaborate medieval ceremony for appointing a knight, of which bathing (as a symbol of purification) was an element. Knights so created were known as 'Knights of the Bath'.[4] George I constituted the Knights of the Bath a regular 'Military Order'. There are three grades: Knight Grand Cross (GCB) or Dame Grand Cross (GCB); Knight Commander (KCB) or Dame Commander (DCB); Companion (CB). Sixten Australians have been awarded the KCB; six for service in World War 1 and three for World War 2
Stylised versions of the badge are known as Bath stars, and are used as pips to indicate Australian army and police ranks..

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-99-151

Inscriptions and markings

The ribbon of the order is crimson.

Contextual Information

At the Australian Army Museum of WA, representations of the KCB may be found in displays associated with Lieutenant General Sir Joseph John Talbot Hobbs, KCB, KCMG, VD. Pips are displayed on uniforms throughout the Museum.

Links to additional resources

Australian Knights and Dames

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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