Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire CBE

Shown with the military type two ribbon, 1936 onwards.

Established by King George V in June 1917 for
“services to the British Empire”.

The award has five Classes and a medal.
[GBE, KBE/DBE, CBE, OBE, and MBE, the medal is BEM.

The award was split into two divisions in December 1918,
a civil division for civilian recipients, and a military division
to be awarded to commissioned and warranted officers
for “distinctive service in action”.

The military division
has a different coloured ribbon to the civilian division,
the insignia is identical.

The order is limited to 300 Knights and Dames Grand Cross.
845 Knights and Dames Commander and
8,960 Commanders,
there are no limits to the total numbers
of the Third and Fourth Classes.

While the OBE has by far the greatest number of members of
The British Orders of Chivalry with over 100,000 living members
worldwide, there are fewer appointments to Knighthood than
other Orders.

Although men can be Knighted separately from an Order of
Chivalry, women cannot, so the Rank of Knight/Dame Commander
is the lowest rank of Damehood, and the second lowest Knighthood,
[being above Knights Bachelor.]

Military Ribbon

Civil Ribbon

At the Time of the Award

AA/C, R B Bannermann,
DFC & Bar,

G/C, D N Barnett, 1 Jan 45

G/C, K L Caldwell. 1 Jan 45

G/C, R J Cohen, Pilot, 49

AA/C J L Findlay, Washington, 1 Jun 44
MC,

A/C, T F Gill, 1 Jan 61

A V/M R V Goddard -RAF- CAS Jul 43

G/C, A H Marsh, 1 Jun 62

ACM, H D McGreggor, Jun 45
DSO,

A G/C, A McKee -RAF-, 1 Jan 44
DSO, DFC, AFC,

A V/M, I G Morrison, 1 Jan 65

G/C, I S Smith, OC RAF Jever 60

A/C, W H Stratten 1 Jan 63

A/C S Wallinford -44

Award info
Source