The Order of the British Empire (CBE)

The Order of the British Empire was created during the First World War in 1917 by George V. The King recognised the necessity for a new award of honour which could be more widely awarded, in recognition of the large numbers of people in the British Isles and other parts of the Empire who were helping the war effort both as combatants and as civilians on the home front. For the first time, women were included in an order of chivalry, and it was decided that the Order should also include foreigners who had helped the British war effort.

From 1918 onwards there were Military and Civil Divisions, as George V also intended that after the war the Order should be used to reward services to the State, defined in a much wider sense to acknowledge distinguished service to the arts and sciences, public services outside the Civil Service and work with charitable and welfare organisations of all kinds. The Order of the British Empire is the order of chivalry of the British democracy.

Valuable service is the only criterion for the award, and the Order is now used to reward service in a wide range of useful activities. Citizens from other countries may also receive an honorary award, for services rendered to the United Kingdom and its people. There are more than 100,000 living members of the Order throughout the world.

After some debate, St Paul's Cathedral was nominated by a special committee and approved by The Queen, as the Chapel of the Order. As the cathedral of the capital city, it could accommodate services attended by very large congregations, and (in the words of one committee member) 'St Paul's symbolised the victory of the British spirit during the war of 1939-45 in that, although badly damaged and shaken, it survived the ordeal by battle in an almost miraculous way'.

CBE Medal

A Chapel for the Order was subsequently built in the cathedral crypt (where Nelson, Wellington and Sir Christopher Wren are buried, amongst others) and its formal dedication in 1969 was attended by The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh (Grand Master of the Order). Once every four years, approximately 2,000 members of the Order attend a service there to celebrate the Order. Many people who have been awarded an honour from overseas attend these services, and each person attending wears their award.

The motto of the Order is 'For God and the Empire'.

Worcestershire Officers who were awarded the CBE (Commander of this order)

The rank show in the table below is that which was held at the time the Order was awarded.

Surname

Forename/s

Number

Rank

Gazette Date

Walsh, M.C.

Mainwaring Ravell

-

Major (Bt. Lt.-Col.)

03/06/1919

Westmacott

Claude Berners

-

Brigadier-General

03/06/1919

Wilsey, D.S.O.

John Harold Owen

300965

T/Brigadier

24/01/1946

Goldie, O.B.E.

Richard Marie Joachim

15396

T/Brigadier

09/06/1949


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