Order of the British Empire

With the First World War lasting longer than expected and no suitable way to reward services to the war effort by civilians at home and servicemen in support positions, King George V created an order with five levels. The first two levels confer knighthood, and since 1935, have not been available to anyone retaining Canadian Citizenship. The other three levels - Commander, Officer and Member - have been available to Canadian citizens. The order could be given generously for services to the Empire at home, in India and in the Dominions and colonies. The order was created mainly to award non-combatant services to the war and was to include women, whom most existing orders excluded. When the order was created in 1917 it had only one division, but was divided into Civil and Military divisions in 1918. The order at any level can be awarded for gallantry as well as for service.

The five classes of appointment to the Order are, in descending order of precedence:

Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (GBE)[a]

Knight Commander or Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE or DBE)

Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE)