Honours vocabulary
type: Ontology
type: ConceptScheme
type: DefinedTermSet
description: Controlled vocabulary of UK honours award types, with mappings to Wikidata and The Gazette honours ontology.
preferred label: Honoria honours
version IRI: https://id.honoria.co.uk/def/honours/1.0
version info: 1.3.0-draft
modified: 2026-07-27
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
source: honours
source: orders-and-medals
source: types-of-honours-and-awards
comment: skos:closeMatch targets are classes in The Gazette honours.owl, a beta ontology (created 2008, last modified 2015, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 UK). Treat those links as official-but-low-confidence until verified per-link and promoted to skos:exactMatch. The Gazette ontology was authored under Queen Elizabeth II (before the 2022 accession of King Charles III), so its naming reflects that reign; monarch-named awards therefore align to the Queen's-reign variant.
editorial note: Order of precedence. The orders of chivalry carry honoria:orderSeniority (1 = most senior): Garter, Thistle, Bath, Order of Merit, St Michael and St George, Royal Victorian Order, Order of the British Empire, Order of the Companions of Honour. Within a multi-grade order the grades carry honoria:gradeRank (1 = most senior): Grand Cross, Knight/Dame Commander, Commander/Companion, Lieutenant/Officer, Member, Medal. The Victoria Cross and George Cross are gallantry decorations that precede all orders of chivalry. Sources: the UK order of wear published in The Gazette (11 January 2019, notice content/103440) and the Cabinet Office 'Orders, Decorations and Medals' reference. These are intrinsic ordinal facts about the honours system; the total order of precedence between individuals (compose grade then order then date of appointment) is a rule for consumers to apply, not part of the vocabulary.
scope note: Scope: UK honours - the orders of chivalry and their grades, gallantry and service decorations, and medals - as they appear in the published honours lists, together with the principal awards modelled in The Gazette honours ontology. Both the King's and Queen's forms of monarch-named awards are included, because the formal name and post-nominal change with the reigning Sovereign. Excluded: peerages and personal appointments (such as Privy Counsellor or Aide-de-Camp), and foreign or other Commonwealth honours systems (such as the Order of Australia). Historic and obsolete honours are included where they appear in the data. Honours are recommended through independent honours committees and conferred by the Sovereign; Honoria is an independent reference, not an official body.
has top concept: The Order of the British Empire
has top concept: The Most Honourable Order of the Bath
has top concept: The Order of St Michael and St George
has top concept: The Royal Victorian Order
has top concept: Order of the Companions of Honour
has top concept: Order of Merit
has top concept: The Most Noble Order of the Garter
has top concept: The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle
has top concept: Order of St John
has top concept: Distinguished Service Order
has top concept: Imperial Service Order
has top concept: Knight Bachelor
has top concept: Bar
has top concept: Royal Red Cross
has top concept: Victoria Cross
has top concept: George Cross
has top concept: George Medal
has top concept: Conspicuous Gallantry Cross
has top concept: Military Cross
has top concept: Distinguished Service Cross
has top concept: Distinguished Flying Cross
has top concept: Air Force Cross
has top concept: Gallantry Medal
has top concept: Commendation for Bravery
has top concept: Police Medal
has top concept: Fire Service Medal
has top concept: Ambulance Service Medal
has top concept: Volunteer Reserves Service Medal
has top concept: Award for Voluntary Service
has top concept: Overseas Territories Police and Fire Service Medal
gazette notice code: 1105

The Order of the British Empire
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: OrderOfChivalry
definition: A British order of chivalry established in 1917 by King George V to recognise distinguished service in the arts and sciences, public life, and charitable and welfare work. Its grades, in descending order, are GBE, KBE/DBE, CBE, OBE and MBE, together with the associated British Empire Medal.
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
order seniority: 7
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: obe
gazette notice code: 1129

Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: The highest grade of the Order of the British Empire, conferred for pre-eminent service; recipients are styled Sir or Dame and use the post-nominal GBE.
notation: GBE
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 1
grade name: Grand Cross
broader: The Order of the British Empire
change note: 1.2.0: split from hon:knight-grand-cross-order-of-the-british-empire, which now denotes the Knight form; the Dame form is hon:dame-grand-cross-order-of-the-british-empire.

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: The highest grade of the Order of the British Empire, as conferred on men; recipients are styled Sir and use the post-nominal GBE.
notation: GBE
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 1
grade name: Knight Grand Cross
broader: Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
ribbon: obe

Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: The highest grade of the Order of the British Empire, as conferred on women; recipients are styled Dame and use the post-nominal GBE.
notation: GBE
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 1
grade name: Dame Grand Cross
broader: Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire

Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: The second grade of the Order of the British Empire for men, conferring a knighthood; recipients are styled Sir and use the post-nominal KBE. Women receive the equivalent grade of Dame Commander (DBE).
notation: KBE
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 2
grade name: Knight Commander
broader: The Order of the British Empire
ribbon: obe

Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: The second grade of the Order of the British Empire for women, conferring a damehood; recipients are styled Dame and use the post-nominal DBE. Men receive the equivalent grade of Knight Commander (KBE).
notation: DBE
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 2
grade name: Dame Commander
broader: The Order of the British Empire
ribbon: obe

Commander of the Order of the British Empire
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: The third grade of the Order of the British Empire, conferred for a distinguished national role or a leading regional contribution; post-nominal CBE.
notation: CBE
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 3
grade name: Commander
broader: The Order of the British Empire
ribbon: obe

Officer of the Order of the British Empire
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: The fourth grade of the Order of the British Empire, conferred for distinguished local or national service; post-nominal OBE.
notation: OBE
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 4
grade name: Officer
broader: The Order of the British Empire
ribbon: obe

Member of the Order of the British Empire
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: The fifth grade of the Order of the British Empire, conferred for outstanding achievement or service to the community; post-nominal MBE.
notation: MBE
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 5
grade name: Member
broader: The Order of the British Empire
ribbon: obe

British Empire Medal
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Medal
definition: A medal associated with the Order of the British Empire, awarded for meritorious hands-on service to the community; post-nominal BEM. Discontinued in the United Kingdom in 1993 and revived in 2012.
notation: BEM
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 6
within order: The Order of the British Empire
related: The Order of the British Empire
comment: No Gazette honours.owl class exists for the BEM (gap in the source ontology).
ribbon: obe
gazette notice code: 1130

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: OrderOfChivalry
definition: A British order of chivalry founded in 1725 by King George I, with military and civil divisions, awarded principally - though not exclusively - to senior officers of the armed forces and senior civil servants. Its grades are GCB, KCB/DCB and CB.
alternative label: Order of the Bath
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
order seniority: 3
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: bath
gazette notice code: 1123

Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: The highest grade of the Order of the Bath, conferred for distinguished service; recipients are styled Sir or Dame and use the post-nominal GCB.
notation: GCB
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 1
grade name: Grand Cross
broader: The Most Honourable Order of the Bath
change note: 1.2.0: split from hon:knight-grand-cross-order-of-bath, which now denotes the Knight form; the Dame form is hon:dame-grand-cross-order-of-bath.

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: The highest grade of the Order of the Bath, as conferred on men; recipients are styled Sir and use the post-nominal GCB.
notation: GCB
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 1
grade name: Knight Grand Cross
broader: Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
change note: 1.2.0: narrowed to the Knight form; the combined concept is hon:grand-cross-order-of-bath.
ribbon: bath

Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: The highest grade of the Order of the Bath, as conferred on women; recipients are styled Dame and use the post-nominal GCB.
notation: GCB
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 1
grade name: Dame Grand Cross
broader: Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
change note: 1.2.0: added; previously conflated with hon:knight-grand-cross-order-of-bath.

Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: Knight Commander, the second grade of the Order of the Bath for men; recipients are styled Sir and use the post-nominal KCB.
notation: KCB
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 2
grade name: Knight Commander
broader: The Most Honourable Order of the Bath
editorial note: "Commander" is the correct spelling and is canonical here. The Gazette honours.owl class gaz:KnightCommmanderOrderOfBath misspells it as "Commmander" (triple m); the closeMatch target is kept verbatim because it is the Gazette's actual class URI.
ribbon: bath

Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: Dame Commander, the second grade of the Order of the Bath for women; recipients are styled Dame and use the post-nominal DCB.
notation: DCB
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 2
grade name: Dame Commander
broader: The Most Honourable Order of the Bath
editorial note: "Commander" is the correct spelling and is canonical here. The Gazette honours.owl class gaz:DameCommmanderOrderOfBath misspells it as "Commmander" (triple m); the closeMatch target is kept verbatim because it is the Gazette's actual class URI.
ribbon: bath

Companion of the Order of the Bath
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: Companion, the third grade of the Order of the Bath; post-nominal CB.
notation: CB
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 3
grade name: Companion
broader: The Most Honourable Order of the Bath
ribbon: bath

The Order of St Michael and St George
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: OrderOfChivalry
hidden label: Order of Saint Michael and Saint George
hidden label: Order of St Michael and St George
definition: A British order of chivalry founded in 1818, awarded chiefly for service in foreign affairs, diplomacy and the Commonwealth. Its grades are GCMG, KCMG/DCMG and CMG.
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
order seniority: 5
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: smg
gazette notice code: 1124

Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: The highest grade of the Order of St Michael and St George, conferred for distinguished service overseas or in foreign affairs; recipients are styled Sir or Dame and use the post-nominal GCMG.
notation: GCMG
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 1
grade name: Grand Cross
broader: The Order of St Michael and St George
change note: 1.2.0: split from hon:knight-grand-cross-order-of-st-michael-and-st-george, which now denotes the Knight form; the Dame form is hon:dame-grand-cross-order-of-st-michael-and-st-george.

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: The highest grade of the Order of St Michael and St George, as conferred on men; recipients are styled Sir and use the post-nominal GCMG.
notation: GCMG
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 1
grade name: Knight Grand Cross
broader: Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
change note: 1.2.0: narrowed to the Knight form; the combined concept is hon:grand-cross-order-of-st-michael-and-st-george.
ribbon: smg

Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: The highest grade of the Order of St Michael and St George, as conferred on women; recipients are styled Dame and use the post-nominal GCMG.
notation: GCMG
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 1
grade name: Dame Grand Cross
broader: Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
change note: 1.2.0: added; previously conflated with hon:knight-grand-cross-order-of-st-michael-and-st-george.

Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: Knight Commander, the second grade of the Order of St Michael and St George for men; styled Sir; post-nominal KCMG.
notation: KCMG
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 2
grade name: Knight Commander
broader: The Order of St Michael and St George
ribbon: smg

Dame Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: Dame Commander, the second grade of the Order of St Michael and St George for women; styled Dame; post-nominal DCMG.
notation: DCMG
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 2
grade name: Dame Commander
broader: The Order of St Michael and St George
ribbon: smg

Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: Companion, the third grade of the Order of St Michael and St George; post-nominal CMG.
notation: CMG
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 3
grade name: Companion
broader: The Order of St Michael and St George
ribbon: smg

The Royal Victorian Order
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: OrderOfChivalry
definition: An order of chivalry founded in 1896 by Queen Victoria, in the personal gift of the sovereign, rewarding distinguished personal service to the monarch. Its grades are GCVO, KCVO/DCVO, CVO, LVO and MVO, with the associated Royal Victorian Medal.
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
order seniority: 6
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: rvo
gazette notice code: 1125

Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: The highest grade of the Royal Victorian Order (Knight or Dame Grand Cross); post-nominal GCVO.
notation: GCVO
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 1
grade name: Grand Cross
broader: The Royal Victorian Order
change note: 1.2.0: split from hon:knight-grand-cross-victorian-order, which now denotes the Knight form; the Dame form is hon:dame-grand-cross-victorian-order.

Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: The highest grade of the Royal Victorian Order, as conferred on men; recipients are styled Sir and use the post-nominal GCVO.
notation: GCVO
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 1
grade name: Knight Grand Cross
broader: Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
ribbon: rvo

Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: The highest grade of the Royal Victorian Order, as conferred on women; recipients are styled Dame and use the post-nominal GCVO.
notation: GCVO
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 1
grade name: Dame Grand Cross
broader: Knight or Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order

Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order; styled Sir; post-nominal KCVO.
notation: KCVO
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 2
grade name: Knight Commander
broader: The Royal Victorian Order
ribbon: rvo

Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order; styled Dame; post-nominal DCVO.
notation: DCVO
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 2
grade name: Dame Commander
broader: The Royal Victorian Order
ribbon: rvo

Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: Commander of the Royal Victorian Order; post-nominal CVO.
notation: CVO
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 3
grade name: Commander
broader: The Royal Victorian Order
comment: No Gazette honours.owl class exists for Commander RVO (gap in the source ontology).
ribbon: rvo

Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order; post-nominal LVO.
notation: LVO
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 4
grade name: Lieutenant
broader: The Royal Victorian Order
ribbon: rvo

Member of the Royal Victorian Order
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Grade
definition: Member of the Royal Victorian Order; post-nominal MVO.
notation: MVO
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 5
grade name: Member
broader: The Royal Victorian Order
ribbon: rvo

Royal Victorian Medal
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Medal
definition: A medal associated with the Royal Victorian Order, awarded in gold, silver and bronze for personal service to the sovereign; post-nominal RVM.
notation: RVM
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 6
within order: The Royal Victorian Order
related: The Royal Victorian Order
ribbon: rvo
gazette notice code: 1127

Royal Victorian Medal (Gold)
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Medal
definition: The gold class of the Royal Victorian Medal, the highest of its three classes; post-nominal RVM.
notation: RVM
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 6
broader: Royal Victorian Medal

Royal Victorian Medal (Silver)
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Medal
definition: The silver class of the Royal Victorian Medal; post-nominal RVM.
notation: RVM
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 6
broader: Royal Victorian Medal

Royal Victorian Medal (Bronze)
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: Medal
definition: The bronze class of the Royal Victorian Medal; post-nominal RVM.
notation: RVM
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
grade rank: 6
broader: Royal Victorian Medal

Bar to the Royal Victorian Medal
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: A bar added to the ribbon of the Royal Victorian Medal to denote a second conferral of the medal. It marks a repeat award rather than a further class of the medal.
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
broader: Royal Victorian Medal
related: Bar
type: award modifier
scope note: Typed dct:type "award modifier" (not a class of the medal) for the same reason as hon:bar, and carries no honours:gradeRank: a bar is an augmentation, not a grade. It is kept as a concept in its own right because The Gazette gazettes it as a distinct notice type (1126), so the notice code needs a term to join to.
comment: No Wikidata item for the bar as such (the medal is wd:Q640996); left unmapped rather than pointing at the medal, which would be a different thing.
gazette notice code: 1126

Order of the Companions of Honour
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: OrderOfChivalry
definition: An order founded in 1917, limited to 65 members at any one time, recognising outstanding achievement in the arts, science, medicine, politics, industry or religion; post-nominal CH.
alternative label: Companion of Honour
notation: CH
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
order seniority: 8
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: ch
gazette notice code: 1128

Royal Red Cross
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: A military decoration founded in 1883 by Queen Victoria for exceptional service in military nursing. It has two classes: Member (RRC) and Associate (ARRC).
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: rrc
gazette notice code: 1131

Member of the Royal Red Cross
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: The first class of the Royal Red Cross, awarded for exceptional service in military nursing; post-nominal RRC.
notation: RRC
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
broader: Royal Red Cross
ribbon: rrc

Associate of the Royal Red Cross
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: The second class of the Royal Red Cross, awarded for service in military nursing; post-nominal ARRC.
notation: ARRC
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
broader: Royal Red Cross
ribbon: rrc

Knight Bachelor
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
hidden label: Knights Bachelor
definition: The oldest and most basic form of British knighthood, not attached to any order of chivalry; recipients are styled Sir but use no post-nominal letters.
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
editorial note: "Knight Bachelor" is the correct spelling and is canonical here. The Gazette honours.owl class gaz:KnightBatchelor misspells it as "Batchelor"; the closeMatch target is kept verbatim because it is the Gazette's actual (misspelled) class URI.
ribbon: none
gazette notice code: 1122

Bar
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
alternative label: Clasp
definition: A bar (or clasp) added to the ribbon of a decoration to denote a further conferral of the same honour - for example a Bar to the Distinguished Flying Cross signifies the DFC awarded a second time. It marks a repeat award rather than being a separate grade.
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
type: award modifier
scope note: Typed dct:type "award modifier" (not an award grade) so consumers iterating award types can filter it out. A bar is an augmentation - a repeat conferral of an existing decoration - and in the data layer is best expressed as an ordinal / award-count qualifier on the Honour statement rather than as an award in its own right; it is kept here as a Concept only so messy source rows naming a bar can still be reconciled.
ribbon: none

Police Medal
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: A medal awarded to police officers for conspicuous gallantry or distinguished service. Its formal name tracks the reigning monarch - the King's Police Medal under a king, the Queen's Police Medal under a queen.
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: police

King's Police Medal
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: The form of the Police Medal used during a King's reign; post-nominal KPM.
notation: KPM
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
broader: Police Medal
related: Queen's Police Medal
comment: Form used during a King's reign.
ribbon: police
gazette notice code: 1132

Queen's Police Medal
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: The form of the Police Medal used during a Queen's reign; post-nominal QPM. The form The Gazette honours.owl reflects.
notation: QPM
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
broader: Police Medal
related: King's Police Medal
comment: Form used during a Queen's reign; the variant The Gazette honours.owl reflects.
ribbon: police

Fire Service Medal
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: A medal awarded to fire service personnel for conspicuous gallantry or distinguished service. Its formal name tracks the reigning monarch - the King's or Queen's Fire Service Medal.
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: fire

King's Fire Service Medal
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: The form of the Fire Service Medal used during a King's reign; post-nominal KFSM.
notation: KFSM
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
broader: Fire Service Medal
related: Queen's Fire Service Medal
comment: Form used during a King's reign.
ribbon: fire
gazette notice code: 1133

Queen's Fire Service Medal
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: The form of the Fire Service Medal used during a Queen's reign; post-nominal QFSM. The form The Gazette honours.owl reflects.
notation: QFSM
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
broader: Fire Service Medal
related: King's Fire Service Medal
comment: Form used during a Queen's reign; the variant The Gazette honours.owl reflects.
ribbon: fire

Ambulance Service Medal
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: A medal awarded to ambulance service personnel for distinguished service. Its formal name tracks the reigning monarch - the King's or Queen's Ambulance Service Medal.
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: ambulance

King's Ambulance Service Medal
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: The form of the Ambulance Service Medal used during a King's reign; post-nominal KAM.
notation: KAM
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
broader: Ambulance Service Medal
related: Queen's Ambulance Service Medal
comment: Form used during a King's reign.
ribbon: ambulance

Queen's Ambulance Service Medal
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: The form of the Ambulance Service Medal used during a Queen's reign; post-nominal QAM. The form The Gazette honours.owl reflects.
notation: QAM
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
broader: Ambulance Service Medal
related: King's Ambulance Service Medal
comment: Form used during a Queen's reign; the variant The Gazette honours.owl reflects.
ribbon: ambulance
gazette notice code: 1134

Volunteer Reserves Service Medal
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: A medal awarded for long and meritorious service in the volunteer reserve forces. Its formal name tracks the reigning monarch - the King's or Queen's Volunteer Reserves Medal.
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: kvrm

King's Volunteer Reserves Medal
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: The form of the Volunteer Reserves Medal used during a King's reign; post-nominal KVRM.
notation: KVRM
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
broader: Volunteer Reserves Service Medal
related: Queen's Volunteer Reserves Medal
comment: Form used during a King's reign.
ribbon: kvrm

Queen's Volunteer Reserves Medal
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: The form of the Volunteer Reserves Medal used during a Queen's reign; post-nominal QVRM. The form The Gazette honours.owl reflects.
notation: QVRM
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
broader: Volunteer Reserves Service Medal
related: King's Volunteer Reserves Medal
comment: Form used during a Queen's reign; the variant The Gazette honours.owl reflects.
ribbon: kvrm

Award for Voluntary Service
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: The highest award given to local volunteer groups across the United Kingdom, regarded as the group equivalent of an MBE. Its formal name tracks the reigning monarch - the King's or Queen's Award for Voluntary Service.
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: none

King's Award for Voluntary Service
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: The form of the Award for Voluntary Service used during a King's reign; post-nominal KAVS.
notation: KAVS
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
broader: Award for Voluntary Service
related: Queen's Award for Voluntary Service
comment: Form used during a King's reign.
ribbon: none

Queen's Award for Voluntary Service
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: The form of the Award for Voluntary Service used during a Queen's reign; post-nominal QAVS. The form The Gazette honours.owl reflects.
notation: QAVS
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
broader: Award for Voluntary Service
related: King's Award for Voluntary Service
comment: Form used during a Queen's reign; the variant The Gazette honours.owl reflects.
ribbon: none
gazette notice code: 1135

Overseas Territories Police and Fire Service Medal
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: A medal recognising distinguished or gallant service by police and fire service personnel in the British Overseas Territories.
notation: OTPFSM
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: none
gazette notice code: 1136

Order of Merit
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: OrderOfChivalry
definition: An order founded in 1902 by King Edward VII, in the personal gift of the sovereign and limited to 24 members, recognising exceptional distinction in the arts, learning, sciences and other fields; post-nominal OM.
notation: OM
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
order seniority: 4
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: om

The Most Noble Order of the Garter
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: OrderOfChivalry
definition: The most senior order of chivalry in the United Kingdom, founded around 1348 by King Edward III and in the personal gift of the sovereign; members are styled Knight Companion (KG) or Lady Companion (LG).
notation: KG
notation: LG
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
order seniority: 1
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: garter

The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
type: OrderOfChivalry
definition: The senior order of chivalry of Scotland, revived in 1687 and in the personal gift of the sovereign; members are styled Knight (KT) or Lady (LT).
notation: KT
notation: LT
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
order seniority: 2
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: thistle

Distinguished Service Order
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: A military decoration founded in 1886, awarded to officers for distinguished service during active operations; post-nominal DSO.
notation: DSO
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: dso

Imperial Service Order
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: An order founded in 1902 recognising long and meritorious service by civil servants; post-nominal ISO. Discontinued for new United Kingdom appointments in 1993.
notation: ISO
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: iso

Order of St John
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
alternative label: The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem
definition: A British royal order of chivalry constituted in 1888 by Queen Victoria, recognising service to the Order's charitable foundations - principally St John Ambulance and the St John Ophthalmic Hospital. It is graded (Bailiff or Dame Grand Cross, Knight or Dame, Commander, Officer, Member, and the Serving Brother and Sister ranks); the grades are not yet modelled in this scheme.
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
scope note: Carries no honours:orderSeniority: appointments to the Order are made by the Sovereign as Head of the Order rather than through the honours lists, and it sits outside the numbered order-of-wear seniority this vocabulary records for the eight principal orders. Typed as a plain concept for that reason, following hon:imperial-service-order.
gazette notice code: 1120

Victoria Cross
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: The highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces, instituted in 1856; post-nominal VC.
notation: VC
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: vc

George Cross
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: The highest award for gallantry not in the face of the enemy, and the civilian counterpart of the Victoria Cross, instituted in 1940; post-nominal GC.
notation: GC
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: gc

George Medal
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: An award for conspicuous gallantry not in the face of the enemy, ranking immediately below the George Cross, instituted in 1940; post-nominal GM.
notation: GM
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: gm

Conspicuous Gallantry Cross
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: A military decoration instituted in 1993 for conspicuous gallantry during active operations, ranking immediately below the Victoria Cross; post-nominal CGC.
notation: CGC
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: cgc

Military Cross
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: A military decoration awarded for gallantry during active operations on land, instituted in 1914; post-nominal MC.
notation: MC
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: mc

Distinguished Service Cross
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: A naval decoration awarded for gallantry during active operations at sea; post-nominal DSC.
notation: DSC
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: dsc

Distinguished Flying Cross
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: A Royal Air Force decoration awarded for valour or gallantry while flying on active operations, instituted in 1918; post-nominal DFC.
notation: DFC
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: dfc

Air Force Cross
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: A Royal Air Force decoration awarded for gallantry or devotion to duty while flying, though not on active operations against the enemy, instituted in 1918; post-nominal AFC.
notation: AFC
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: afc

Gallantry Medal
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: A United Kingdom decoration for exemplary acts of bravery, ranking below the George Medal. Its formal name tracks the reigning monarch - the King's or Queen's Gallantry Medal.
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
ribbon: qgm

King's Gallantry Medal
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: The form of the Gallantry Medal used during a King's reign; post-nominal KGM.
notation: KGM
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
broader: Gallantry Medal
related: Queen's Gallantry Medal
comment: Form used during a King's reign.
ribbon: qgm

Queen's Gallantry Medal
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: The form of the Gallantry Medal used during a Queen's reign; post-nominal QGM.
notation: QGM
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
broader: Gallantry Medal
related: King's Gallantry Medal
comment: Form used during a Queen's reign.
ribbon: qgm

Commendation for Bravery
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: A United Kingdom commendation for an act of bravery, ranking below the Gallantry Medal. Its formal name tracks the reigning monarch - the King's or Queen's Commendation for Bravery. It carries no post-nominal letters.
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
top concept of: Honours vocabulary
scope note: Unusually among UK gallantry awards it is not constituted by royal warrant; it succeeded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct (1994).
ribbon: none

King's Commendation for Bravery
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: The form of the Commendation for Bravery used during a King's reign; carries no post-nominal letters.
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
broader: Commendation for Bravery
related: Queen's Commendation for Bravery
comment: Form used during a King's reign.
ribbon: none

Queen's Commendation for Bravery
type: Concept
type: DefinedTerm
definition: The form of the Commendation for Bravery used during a Queen's reign; carries no post-nominal letters.
in scheme: Honours vocabulary
broader: Commendation for Bravery
related: King's Commendation for Bravery
comment: Form used during a Queen's reign.
ribbon: none