1959 New Year Honours Explained

The New Year Honours 1959 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. They were announced on 30 December 1958 to celebrate the year passed and mark the beginning of 1959.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

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.

At this time, awards were still being made within the United Kingdom honours list on the advice of the premiers of Australian states. There was also a (federal) Australian honours list of awards made "on the advice of Her Majesty's Australian Ministers".[2] The separate Australian honours system began in 1975.

United Kingdom and Commonwealth

Baron

Privy Councillor

Baronet

Knight Bachelor

State of South Australia
State of Victoria
Commonwealth Relations
Overseas Territories

Order of the Bath

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

Military Division

Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB)

Military Division
Royal Navy
Army
Royal Air Force
Civil Division

Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)

Military Division
Royal Navy
Army
Royal Air Force
Civil Division

Order of Merit (OM)

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)

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

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 (MVO)

Fourth Class:
Fifth Class:

Order of the British Empire

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

Military Division
Civil Division

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

Civil Division

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

Military Division
Royal Navy
Army
Royal Air Force
Civil Division
Honorary Knight Commander

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Military Division
Royal Navy
Army
Royal Air Force
Civil Division

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Military Division
Royal Navy
Army
Royal Air Force
Civil Division

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Military Division
Royal Navy
Army
Royal Air Force
Civil Division

Order of the Companions of Honour (CH)

British Empire Medal (BEM)

Military Division
Royal Navy
Army
Royal Air Force
Civil Division
United Kingdom
State of New South Wales
Southern Rhodesia
Overseas Territories

Royal Victorian Medal (RVM)

In Silver:

Royal Red Cross (RRC)

Associate of the Royal Red Cross (ARRC)

Air Force Cross (AFC)

Royal Navy
Royal Air Force

Bar to Air Force Cross

Royal Air Force

Second Bar to Air Force Cross

Royal Air Force

Air Force Medal (AFM)

Royal Air Force

Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air

United Kingdom
Army
Royal Air Force

Queen's Police Medal (QPM)

England and Wales
Scotland
Northern Ireland
State of New South Wales
Southern Rhodesia
Overseas Territories

Queen's Fire Services Medal (QFSM)

England and Wales

Colonial Police Medal (CPM)

Southern Rhodesia
Basutoland
Overseas Territories

Australia

Knight Bachelor

Order of the Bath

Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB)

Military Division

Order of Saint Michael and Saint George

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

Order of the British Empire

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

Military Division
Civil Division

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Military Division
Civil Division

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Military Division
Civil Division

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Military Division
Civil Division

British Empire Medal (BEM)

Military Division
Civil Division

Royal Red Cross (RRC)

Associate of the Royal Red Cross (ARRC)

Air Force Cross (AFC)

Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air

New Zealand

See main article: 1959 New Year Honours (New Zealand).

Ghana

Order of the British Empire

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Civil Division

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Civil Division

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Military Division
Civil Division

Queen's Police Medal (QPM)

Rhodesia and Nyasaland

Order of the British Empire

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Civil Division

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Civil Division

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Civil Division

Notes and References

  1. United Kingdom list:
  2. Australia list:
  3. New Zealand list:
  4. Ghana list:
  5. Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland list: