The Most Honourable Order of the Bath
The Most Noble Order of the Bath is an English order of chivalry founded by George I on 28th May 1725 which was originally a military order. It was named after the medieval ritual of purification through bathing during the investiture of a knight.
This order contains a military and civil division and this honour is usually given to senior civil servants or senior military personnel. Commonwealth citizens along with other foreigners can be made honourary members of the Order. Members can also come from any country in which the Queen is Sovereign. This order consists of three classes which include: Knight Grand Cross & Dame Grand Cross (GCB), Knight Commander (KCB) & Dame Commander (DCB), and Companion (CB). The Queen is the Sovereign of the Order whilst the Prince of Wales serves as the Great Master. The Order of the Bath is the fourth-highest ranking order, behind the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, and the dormant Most Illustrious Order of St. Patrick.
There are 120 Knight and Dame Grand Crosses, 355 Knight and Dame Commanders, and 1925 Companions. Knight and Dame Commanders wear mantles of crimson satin lined with white taffeta. It has two large tassels and the star is embroidered on the left side. The hat is black velvet and includes a plume of upright feathers which is worn by GCB's, DCB's, & KCB's. The Knights and Dames Grand Cross where the collar which includes eight sets of flowers representing English (roses), Scotland (thistles) and Ireland (shamrocks). This collar weighs approximately 1 kilogram. The star for military Knights and Dames Grand Cross consists of a Maltese Cross on top of an eight-pointed silver star; 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 star for civil Knights and Dames Grand Cross consists of an eight-pointed silver star, without the Maltese cross; the star for civil Knights and Dames Commander is an eight-pointed silver cross pattée. The design of each is the same as the design of the military stars, except that the laurel branches and the words Ich dien are excluded. All collars and stars are returned to the Central Chancery of the Knighthood Order at the decease of a member.
The Henry VII Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey is the chapel of the Order of the Bath. Every four years the Great Master presides over an installation ceremony. Only the most senior members attend due to the size of the chapel. When a member dies, another is given his place as the chapel. This is based on class and seniority. Above there stalls, the Knight Grand Cross's helm is placed with the mantle and the crest elaborately decorated. The heraldic banner is placed above with a smaller version of the crest. Women don't have crests due to English Heraldic Laws and thus they have a Coronet if they are a peeress or a member a royal family or the British Royal Family. The Queen is the only female to have personalised Coat of Arms as she is the monarch.
This order contains a military and civil division and this honour is usually given to senior civil servants or senior military personnel. Commonwealth citizens along with other foreigners can be made honourary members of the Order. Members can also come from any country in which the Queen is Sovereign. This order consists of three classes which include: Knight Grand Cross & Dame Grand Cross (GCB), Knight Commander (KCB) & Dame Commander (DCB), and Companion (CB). The Queen is the Sovereign of the Order whilst the Prince of Wales serves as the Great Master. The Order of the Bath is the fourth-highest ranking order, behind the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, and the dormant Most Illustrious Order of St. Patrick.
There are 120 Knight and Dame Grand Crosses, 355 Knight and Dame Commanders, and 1925 Companions. Knight and Dame Commanders wear mantles of crimson satin lined with white taffeta. It has two large tassels and the star is embroidered on the left side. The hat is black velvet and includes a plume of upright feathers which is worn by GCB's, DCB's, & KCB's. The Knights and Dames Grand Cross where the collar which includes eight sets of flowers representing English (roses), Scotland (thistles) and Ireland (shamrocks). This collar weighs approximately 1 kilogram. The star for military Knights and Dames Grand Cross consists of a Maltese Cross on top of an eight-pointed silver star; 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 star for civil Knights and Dames Grand Cross consists of an eight-pointed silver star, without the Maltese cross; the star for civil Knights and Dames Commander is an eight-pointed silver cross pattée. The design of each is the same as the design of the military stars, except that the laurel branches and the words Ich dien are excluded. All collars and stars are returned to the Central Chancery of the Knighthood Order at the decease of a member.
The Henry VII Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey is the chapel of the Order of the Bath. Every four years the Great Master presides over an installation ceremony. Only the most senior members attend due to the size of the chapel. When a member dies, another is given his place as the chapel. This is based on class and seniority. Above there stalls, the Knight Grand Cross's helm is placed with the mantle and the crest elaborately decorated. The heraldic banner is placed above with a smaller version of the crest. Women don't have crests due to English Heraldic Laws and thus they have a Coronet if they are a peeress or a member a royal family or the British Royal Family. The Queen is the only female to have personalised Coat of Arms as she is the monarch.