X-Nico

50 unusual facts about Order of the British Empire


1948 in archaeology

Maud Cunnington made CBE for services to archaeology, the first woman archaeologist to receive the honour.

Albert Ernest Sims

Albert Ernest (George) Sims (OBE, RVO), LRAM, ARCM (1896–1981) was a British composer, conductor and music director (Wing Commander) for The Central Band of H.M. Royal Air Force.

Albert Norman

Albert Norman MBE (1882 – 1964) was one of the founders and the first secretary of the Institute of Biomedical Science.

Anne Lucas

Anne Shirley Lucas CBE (born c. 1951) is an Australian actress, best known for her roles on television as Eve Turner (later Steele) in The Young Doctors and Faye Quin in Prisoner.

Arthur Samuel Allen

Lesser appointments followed, but in October 1944, Blamey recommended Allen be made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE), although Allen was never appointed.

Baden-Powell grave

The grave of Lieutenant-General The 1st Baron Baden-Powell and his wife, Olave, Baroness Baden-Powell, G.B.E., are in Nyeri in Central Province, Kenya, near Mount Kenya.

Bertie Clarke

Dr Carlos Bertram (Bertie) Clarke, OBE (7 April 1918, Lakes Folly, Cats Castle, St Michael, Barbados – 14 October 1993, Putney, London, England) was a West Indian cricketer who played in three Tests in 1939.

Calum Colvin

Calum Colvin RSA OBE (born Glasgow, 1961) is a Scottish artist whose work combines photography, painting, and installation, and often deals with issues of Scottish identity and culture and with the history of art.

Clan Arbuthnott

The present Viscount of Arbuthnott and chief of Clan Arbuthnott has been awarded both the Distinguished Service Cross and the Order of the British Empire.

Franca Arena

She was offered the Order of the British Empire for services to migrants, but refused the honour; in 1980 she accepted the Order of Australia for services to ethnic groups.

Frank Horwill

Frank J. Horwill MBE (19 June 1927 – 1 January 2012) was a UK Athletics senior level 4 coach most famous for founding the British Milers' Club (BMC) and for formulating the Five Pace Training Theory which is widely used for coaching middle-distance runners throughout the world.

Freddie Young

Freddie Young OBE, BSC (9 October 1902 - 1 December 1998), (sometimes credited as Frederick A. Young) was one of Britain's most distinguished and influential cinematographers.

Gavin Long

Long was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1953 for his services as editor of the official history.

Gord Reay

Lieutenant General Gordon Reay CMM MBE CD (30 May 1943 – 21 December 2000) was the Chief of the Land Staff of the Canadian Forces.

Henry A. Schade

Additionally, the Government of Great Britain made Schade an Honorary Officer of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

Jim Leishman

In the Queen's Birthday Honours 2007, Leishman was appointed as a member of the Order of the British Empire for 'services to sport'.

John Bussey

Group Captain John Bussey, OBE (1895-1979) was in charge of Reconnassance for the British Royal Air Force during WWII.

John Greig

John Greig MBE (born 11 September 1942 in Edinburgh) is a Scottish former professional football player who, despite his boyhood allegiance to hometown team Heart of Midlothian, spent his entire career in Glasgow with Rangers as a player, manager and director.

Greig was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) on 15 November 1977.

Ken Woodward

Kenneth (Ken) Woodward is a holder of the OBE for work in health and safety, which he commenced following an industrial accident, and the first person to be awarded the medal for work in that field.

Laurence Henry Hicks

Laurence Henry Hicks (1912-1997), OBE, was an English-born military bandmaster and composer.

On 1 January 1963 he was appointed to The Order of the British Empire – Officer (Military) with the citation, "For service as Director of Music with the RAAF".

May Moss

Alice "May" Moss, CBE (27 April 1869 – 18 July 1948) was an Australian welfare worker and women's rights activist.

Mirosław Vitali

In 1986, he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), in recognition of his work for wounded British soldiers.

New Tredegar

He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2013 Birthday Honours for services to music and for charitable services.

Nirad C. Chaudhuri

In 1992, he was honoured by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom with the title of Commander of Order of the British Empire (CBE).

Pato Kakaraya

Sir Pato Kakaraya, KBE, is a Papua New Guinea politician and Cabinet Minister.

Paul McStay

Paul Michael Lyons McStay OBE, nicknamed the Maestro (born 22 October 1964, Hamilton), is a former football player who spent his entire career with Scottish team Celtic F.C., making his debut in 1982 and retiring in 1997.

Peter Dimmock

Peter Harold Dimmock CBE, CVO (born 6 December 1920) is a pioneering former sports broadcaster and senior executive of British television during its formative years in the 1950s.

Philip Vian

Despite this, Vian received a personal letter of congratulation from Winston Churchill and he was appointed a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE).

Ponsonby Britt

Britt eventually supposedly became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) and was retained in the cartoon's closing credits as an in-joke.

Quintiles

Quintiles was founded in 1982 by Dennis Gillings, Ph.D., CBE, then a professor of biostatistics at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Raymond Snoddy

Raymond Snoddy OBE (born 1946) is a British journalist, television presenter, author and media commentator.

Robert Merrill Lee

General Robert Merrill Lee CBE (April 13, 1909 – June 29, 2003) was the air deputy to the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, with the responsibility of assisting SACEUR in developing, training and employing NATO combat forces for the defense of allied Europe.

Robin Duval

On retirement from the BBFC he was made a C.B.E. (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2005 Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to the film industry.

Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec

Colonel (ret) Jean Berthiaume, OBE, CD - Infantry officer of the Régiment de St-Hyacinthe and of the Royal 22e Régiment - 1915-2003

Sidney Hobart-Hampden-Mercer-Henderson, 7th Earl of Buckinghamshire

Sidney Carr Hobart-Hampden-Mercer-Henderson, 7th Earl of Buckinghamshire OBE DL (14 March 1860 – 15 January 1930), styled Lord Hobart from 1875 to 1885, was a British Liberal politician.

Stefan Skarbek

His mother is the bestselling author Marjorie Wallace who was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire for founding the charity SANE.

Stephen Weir

He led his new command during its crossing of the Lamone River and at the end of the year was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his work in Italy.

Subramaniam Ramadorai

Subramanian Ramadorai, CBE ( born 6 October 1945) is the adviser to the Prime Minister of India in the national council on skill development, Government of India.

The Alexander Brothers

In recognition of their contributions to the world of music, they received MBEs from the Queen in the 2005 New Year Honours List.

Thomas Kielinger

Thomas Kielinger OBE (born July 1940 in Danzig) is a German journalist, political commentator and author.

Tiger Tim Stevens

In 2006 Stevens was awarded the Member of the British Empire (MBE) for his charity work and services to broadcasting in Scotland.

Trevor Harrison

In 2001, The Archers 50th anniversary year, he was made an MBE for his services to radio drama, particularly for his role in The Archers.

Tuʻipelehake

From a non-traditional side, he was honoured with the CBE.

Twyford railway station

In 2005 Norman Topson, the station master for 16 years and local rail worker for 43 years, was awarded an MBE for services to the railway industry and community.

Vic Renalson

Renalson was a finalist in the ABC Sportsman of the Year award in 1968, and became a member of the Order of the British Empire in 1973 for services to sport and the community.

Wentworth D'Arcy Uhr

His grandson, Clive Uhr, would become a noted radiologist and Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

William J. McCormack

He is the son of a British Colonial Police colonel who was decorated with an MBE by the King for his work with prison reform and children's polio.

Willie Miller

William Ferguson Miller, MBE (born 2 May 1955 in Glasgow) is a former professional football player who made a club record 558 league appearances for Aberdeen.


Angela Sarkis

Angela Sarkis CBE (b. 1955), was the Chief Executive of the Nurture Group Network, a charitable organisation which promotes and supports the development of specialist support for vulnerable children within mainstream education.

Archibald Salvidge

Sir Archibald Tutton James Salvidge KBE PC (5 August 1863 – 11 December 1928) was an English politician, most notable for securing the political dominance of the Conservative Party in Liverpool through the use of the Working Men's Conservative Association (WMCA), earning him the nickname "the king of Liverpool" (by Warden Chilcott, MP for Liverpool Walton).

Ards Forest Park

She was the wife of Lt. Col. Sir Pieter C. van B. Stewart-Bam, Kt., O.B.E., a South African soldier, politician and businessman whom she married in 1910.

Arthur Blackburn

Brigadier Arthur Seaforth Blackburn VC, CMG, CBE, ED (25 November 1892 – 24 November 1960) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Arthur Colvin

The Honourable Colonel Arthur Edmund Colvin CBE MC MLC (24 April 1884 - 20 August 1966) was a member of New South Wales Legislative Council and a soldier, surgeon and physician.

Arthur Samuel Allen

Major General Arthur Samuel "Tubby" Allen CB CBE DSO VD (10 March 1894 – 25 January 1959) was an Australian soldier.

Blake Pelly

Blake Raymond Pelly OBE (31 May 1907, Buckley, Flintshire - 16 October 1990, Sydney) was an Australian air force officer, politician and businessman, who represented the Liberal Party of Australia in New South Wales Parliament.

Bronwyn Hill

Bronwyn Hill CBE (born 1960) is a British civil servant, who currently serves as the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Chris Houlding

During 2004-5 he completed a course in conducting at the RNCM to gain further experience under the watchful eye of Mark Elder CBE.

Clan Blackadder

William Francis Blackadder played in the Scottish rugby team in 1938, and was awarded the DSO and OBE as an RAF ace in World War II.

Donald Buttress

Donald Reeve Buttress, LVO, OBE is an English architect based in St Albans, Hertfordshire.

Edwin Herbert, Baron Tangley

Invested as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, he was created Baron Tangley, of Blackheath in the County of Surrey on 22 January 1964.

Elmer J. Rogers, Jr.

His foreign decorations include the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Croix de Guerre with Palm (French), Pilots Citation, Royal Yugoslavian Air Force, the Order of the White Elephant, 2nd Class (Thailand), the Ulchi Distinguished Military Service Medal with Gold Star (Republic of Korea), the Order of the Rising Sun (Japan), and the Military Order of Taeguk (Korea).

Geoffrey Rhodes Bromet

Air Vice Marshal Sir Geoffrey Rhodes Bromet KBE CB DSO, DL (28 August 1891 – 16 November 1983) was an Air Vice Marshal during World War II and a former Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man.

Gerard Basset

Gerard Francis Claude Basset OBE, MS, MW, MBA, is the owner with his wife, Nina, of Hotel Terravina, a New Forest Hotel near Southampton in Hampshire, United Kingdom.

Greg Haddrick

Haddrick is the younger child and only son of actor Ron Haddrick AM MBE.

Gunasena de Soyza

Gunasena de Soyza CMG OBE (20 December 1902 – 12 October 1961) was High Commissioner for Ceylon in Britain from 1960 until his death.

H. J. Heinz II

In 1979, Queen Elizabeth II made Heinz an Honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, citing him "for significant contribution in the furtherance of British-American relationships, especially in the cultural, educational and economic fields."

Hardy N. Ganong

Major-General Hardy Nelson Ganong CBE, EDV (Apr 18, 1890 - February 24, 1963) was a Canadian sportsman and a military commander who served in both World War I and II.

Harold Wilson bibliography

James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, PC (11 March 1916 – 24 May 1995) was one of the most prominent British politicians of the 20th century.

Jean Robinson

Jean Robinson, CBE (8 December 1899 - 5 November 1986) was the first female mayor of Blackpool, Lancashire from 1968-1969.

John Boot, 2nd Baron Trent

John Campbell Boot, 2nd Baron Trent KBE (19 January 1889–8 March 1956) was the son of the Jesse Boot who turned the Boots Company, founded by his father John Boot, into a major national company.

Jon Moynihan

Jon Moynihan, OBE (born 21 June 1948) is the former Executive Chairman of PA Consulting Group, the employee-owned firm of over 2,000 people, specialising in management and IT consulting, technology and innovation.

Jonathan Woodcock

He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 2008 Birthday Honours.

Landis Gores

By the time he completed active duty he had been awarded both the Legion of Merit and the Order of the British Empire.

Margaret Stones

Elsie Margaret Stones AM, MBE (born 28 August 1920 at Colac, Victoria) is an Australian botanical illustrator.

Michael Ogio

Sir Michael Ogio, GCMG, CBE (born 7 July 1942) is the ninth and current Governor-General of Papua New Guinea.

Montagu Stopford

In December 1944 he and his fellow corps commanders Christison and Scoones were knighted and invested as KBE by the viceroy Lord Wavell at a ceremony at Imphal in front of the Scottish, Gurkha and Punjab regiments.

Muhammad Faiyaz Ali Khan

Nawab Sir Muhammad Faiyaz Ali Khan Bahadur, the Nawab of Pahasu, GBE, KCSI, KCIE, KCVO, MBE; (1851–1922) was a member of Governor General' Council of the United Provinces and Member of the Legislative council of United Provinces.

Neil Cossons

Sir Neil Cossons OBE FSA FMA FRGS (born 15 January 1939) is Pro-Provost and Chairman of Council of the Royal College of Art, of which he has been a Governor since 1989.

Niall FitzGerald

Niall FitzGerald, KBE (born 13 September 1945 in County Sligo) is an Irish businessman.

Patsy Adam-Smith

Patricia Jean "Patsy" Adam-Smith AO, OBE (31 May 1924 – 20 September 2001) was an Australian author, historian and servicewoman.

Ralph Allwood

Ralph Allwood, MBE (born 1950) was the Precentor and Director of Music at Eton College in the UK until September 2011.

Rob Kell

John Robert ("Rob") Kell, CBE (1902 - 1983) was an English civil engineer with particular expertise in the field of heating, ventilation and air conditioning.

Robert James Clayton

Sir Robert James Clayton CBE, (30 October 1915, Fulham, London - 20 June 1998, Brent, Middlesex, UK) electronics engineer, was notable in the area of defense and industrial electronics.

Robert Wesley Colglazier, Jr.

His personal decorations included the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Order of the British Empire, French Legion of Honor and French Croix de Guerre.

Rosalinde Hurley

Dame Rosalinde Hurley, Mrs. Gortvai, DBE, FRC, FRCPath, FRCOG (30 December 1929 – 30 June 2004) was knighted by the British government for her services to medicine, science and law.

Sibyl Hathaway

On the 400th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth I's grant of charter to Sark's first seigneur, Hellier de Carteret, Hathaway was made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire at the Buckingham Palace.

Single-wire earth return

Lloyd Mandeno OBE (1888-1973) fully developed SWER in New Zealand around 1925 for rural electrification.

Stokes mortar

The Stokes mortar was a British trench mortar invented by Sir Wilfred Stokes KBE that was issued to the British, Commonwealth and U.S. armies, as well as the Portuguese Expeditionary Corps (CEP), during the latter half of the First World War.

Theodore J. Conway

Conway’s decorations included the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster; Bronze Star Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters; French Legion of Honor; French Croix de Guerre with Palm; Czechoslovak Military Cross; Polish Golden Cross of Merit with Swords; Order of the British Empire; Order of the Crown of Italy; and the Army Distinguished Service Medal (US).

Walter Coutts

Sir Walter Fleming Coutts, KCMG, MBE (1912–1988) was a British colonial administrator and was Uganda's last Governor before independence, from 1961–1962.