1918 New Year Honours Explained

The 1918 New Year Honours were appointments by King George V to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of the British Empire. The appointments were published in The London Gazette and The Times in January, February and March 1918.

Unlike the 1917 New Year Honours, the 1918 honours included a long list of new knights bachelor and baronets, but again the list was dominated by rewards for war efforts. As The Times reported: "The New Year Honours represent largely the circumstances of war, and, perhaps, as usual, they also reflect human nature in an obvious form. The list is one of the rare opportunities for the public to scan the names of soldiers who have distinguished themselves in service."[1]

The recipients of the Order of the British Empire were not classified as being within Military or Civilian divisions until following the war.

The recipients of honours are displayed here as they were styled before their new honour, and arranged by honour, with classes (Knight, Knight Grand Cross, etc.) and then divisions (Military, Civil, etc.) as appropriate.

United Kingdom and British Empire

Viscount

Baron

Privy Councillor

The King appointed the following to His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council:

Baronetcies

Knight Bachelor

British India

Colonies, Protectorates, etc.

Victoria Cross (VC)

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB)

=Army

=

=Indian Army

=

Honorary Knight Grand Cross

Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB)

=Royal Navy

=

=Army

=

=Australian Imperial Force

=

=Canadian Force

=

=New Zealand Force

=

=South African Force

=

=Honorary Knight Commander

=

Civil Division

Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)

=Royal Navy

=

=Army

=

=Australian Imperial Force

=

=Canadian Force

=

=New Zealand Force

=

=Indian Army

=

Civil Division

The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India

Knight Commander (KCSI)

In recognition of the services rendered by the native States of India during the War

Companion (CSI)

The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG)

Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG)

Australian Imperial Force
Colonial List
Honorary Knight Commander

Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG)

Australian Imperial Force
Canadian Force
New Zealand Force
South African Force
Colonial List
Diplomatic and Overseas Residents
Honorary Companions

The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire

Knight Grand Commander (GCIE)

Knight Commander (KCIE)

Honorary Knight Commander

Companion (CIE)

Imperial Order of the Crown of India

The Royal Victorian Order

Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO)

Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO)

Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO)

Member of the Royal Victorian Order, 4th class (MVO)

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE)

Civil Division
=Dominion of New Zealand

=

=British India

=

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE)

Civil Division
=Egypt and the Sudan

=

=British India

=In recognition of Services rendered by the Native States of India during the War —

Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE)

Civil Division
=Commonwealth of Australia

=

=Newfoundland

=

Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE)

=Army

=

Civil Division
=British India

=

=Commonwealth of Australia

=

=Dominion of New Zealand

=

=Egypt and the Sudan

=

=Newfoundland

=

=Crown Colonies, Protectorates, etc.

=

=Honorary Knight Commander

=

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Military Division
=For services in connection with the War in France, Egypt and Salonika

=

Civil Division
=For services in connection with the War in France, Egypt and Salonika

=

=British India

=

=Commonwealth of Australia

=

=Dominion of New Zealand

=

=Egypt and the Sudan

=

=Newfoundland

=

=Union of South Africa

=

=Crown Colonies, Protectorates, etc

=

=Honorary Cmdrs of the said Most Excellent Order

=

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

See main article: 1918 New Year Honours (OBE).

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

See main article: 1918 New Year Honours (MBE).

Royal Red Cross

First Class (RRC)

Second Class (Associate RRC)

Awarded a Bar to the Royal Red Cross (RRC*)

Medal of the Order of the British Empire

For services in connection with the War in which great courage or self-sacrifice has been displayed.

Distinguished Service Order (DSO)

Australian Imperial Force

Canadian Force

Newfoundland Force

New Zealand Force

South African Force

Awarded a Bar to the Distinguished Service Order (DSO*)

Australian Imperial Force
Canadian Force
New Zealand Force

Awarded a Second Bar to the Distinguished Service Order (DSO**)

Military Cross (MC)

See main article: 1918 New Year Honours (MC).

Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM)

Australian Imperial Force

Canadian Force

New Zealand Force

Newfoundland Contingent

South African Force

Meritorious Service Medal (MSM)

See main article: 1918 New Year Honours (MSM).

Indian Order of Merit (IOM)

Second Class

Indian Distinguished Service Medal (IDSM)

King's Police Medal (KPM)

England and Wales

Police Forces
Fire Brigades

Scotland

Police Forces
Fire Brigades

Ireland

Police Forces
Awarded a Bar to the King's Police Medal

British India

Police Forces

Overseas Dominions

Police Forces

Imperial Service Medal (ISM)

Home Civil Service

Notes and References

  1. News: New Year Honours – The Official Lists, New Peers And Baronets, Long Roll Of Soldiers. . . 7–8 . 1 January 1918.
  2. Corrections:
  3. Web site: Stilwell . Martin . 20 January 2019 . Australian Munitions Workers . 14 June 2022 . Surrey in the Great War: A County Remembers . A Surrey Heritage (Surrey County Council) project .
  4. News: 11 January 1918 . SYDNEY INVENTORS. . 8 . . 24,966 . New South Wales, Australia . National Library of Australia . 14 June 2022.