Honours System

[Des Jenkins]

When I was small the family used to visit my Grandads grave on Sundays, he was buried with his medals, I asked my Mum why, she said he won the, he should wear them, ever after I always imagined my Grandfather lying there with his medals. I often wonder how many medals are buried in that way.
Des

[j.sabourn]

Quite a few I:would say Des ! As usually displayed on the coffin lid for the congregation to sight. Would think unless they had been told to retain the undertakers before screwing the lid down would just shove inside to be committed to the earth .JS

[j.sabourn]

With ref. to #17 with inference to the BEM the wording of such would also have been British Excellence Medal. JS.

[happy daze john in oz]

In the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance there are over 1,000 medals on show of all types.
Donated by either the recipient or family when the recipient passed.

[j.sabourn]

As regards those who think that there are more than once mention by assuming the KBE OBE CBE etc.add to the general number of mentions of British Empire that they are shown they are ignorant of the British Honours system. They all come under the one Order which is the Grand Order of the British Empire. They are just grades in that Order. Every grade in whatever Order is governed by the number of live participants holding that grade e.g.to be a knight of the garter think they are limited to 12 , this being one of the much older Orders. To receive any Order such as the MBE has to come through the PMs office and has to come from other people and the numbers of still living holders has to be referred to, they don’t dish them out like campaign ribbons . It would be bad grace to refuse one after so many people have put your name forward, I thought at the time how bad mannered the Beetles were at the time for refusing the MBE, probably living up to their name and waiting for better things to be offered, they would still be waiting if I had my way. JS

[happy daze john in oz]

Think that is similar to one here in Oz
Major is AO, all others fall below that in order of value for the honor.

[j.sabourn]

The BEM in the UK is a medal John but comes under the auspices of the British Empire Order. i would imagine as the OAM. The Monarch has particular Orders which she is solely in charge of such as the Order of the Garter , apart from on paper having the sole control of all the Orders. But as formality requires the P.M. must approach the monarch before the recipient is advised
If he is willing to accept. If you have a criminal record you have as much chance as a snowball in hell. In fact an Order can be cancelled if it’s holder takes up a criminal lifestyle.One personage which I thought was running a tightrope was the well known author who sits in the House of lords who was arrested for kerb crawling. A famous jockey lost his OBE for tax evasion , so don’t think the taxman is fair game. Cheers JS

[James Curry]

#25 so what does the BE refer to as in those posted below.

Awards with the term British Empire , certainly more than O.B.E

GBE (Knight or Dame) - Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
KBE or DBE (Knight or Dame) - Knight Commander or Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
CBE - Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
OBE - Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
MBE - Member of the most Excellent order of the British Empire.

For me the system is flawed , those who pay for it by way of a political donations.

To make a nomination for an OBE you need to complete the official nomination document telling the Honours and Appointments Secretariat at the Cabinet Office all about the nominee’s outstanding work and achievements.
I went through this process and had a letter back from the Cabinet office saying the nomination was under consideration. Sadly the recipient Dennis Gallagher died before he recieved the OBE as they do not award the honour posthumously.

[John Cassels]

Over on this side of the North Sea we don't as such have an honours system. The nearest thing is the obnoxious Baantjes carousel where ex politicians are " rewarded "
by being appointed as president of an NGO whether they are fit for the job or not eg. an ex agricultural minister now the Mayor of Rotterdam.

[Louis the fly]

The UK has just celebrated the end of WW2 and V.E day. The few old military men and women who could still make it were pictured with members of the establishment sharing their thoughts and memories while wearing their much deserved medals. Later the same establishment figures posed on the Palace balcony in resplendent uniforms complete with a chestful of medals and honours looking as though they were off to a fancy dress party.
A view of British life.