1959 Birthday Honours Explained

The Queen's Birthday 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.

The appointments were made to celebrate the official birthday of The Queen, and were announced on 13 June 1959 for the United Kingdom and Commonwealth[1] Australia,[2] New Zealand,[3] Ghana,[4] and the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.[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.

United Kingdom and Commonwealth

Baron

Privy Counsellor

Baronet

Knight Bachelor

State of Queensland
State of South Australia
State of Victoria
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 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 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)

Civil Division

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

Military Division
Civil Division

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

Military Division
Royal Navy
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)

Companion of the Imperial Service Order (ISO)

Home Civil Service
State of South Australia and Southern Rhodesia
Overseas Civil Service

British Empire Medal (BEM)

Military Division
Royal Navy
Army
Royal Air Force
Civil Division
United Kingdom
Basutoland
Pakistan
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
Second Bar to Air Force Cross

Air Force Medal (AFM)

Royal Air Force

Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air

Army
Royal Air Force
United Kingdom

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
Scotland
Overseas Territories

Colonial Police Medal (CPM)

Southern Rhodesia
Basutoland
Bechuanaland Protectorate
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)

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
Royal Australian Navy
Australian Army
Royal Australian Air Force
Civil Division

Companion of the Imperial Service Order (ISO)

Australian Civil Service

British Empire Medal (BEM)

Military Division
Royal Australian Navy
Australian Army
Royal Australian Air Force
Civil Division

Royal Red Cross (RRC)

Associate of the Royal Red Cross (ARRC)

Air Force Cross (AFC)

Royal Australian Air Force

Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in the Air

Royal Australian Air Force

New Zealand

See main article: 1959 Birthday 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)

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

Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland

Knight Bachelor

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

Companion of the Imperial Service Order (ISO)

Federation Of Rhodesia and Nyasaland Civil Service

British Empire Medal (BEM)

Military Division
Civil Division

Notes and References

  1. UK list:
  2. Australia list:
  3. New Zealand list:
  4. Ghana list:
  5. Rhodesia & Nyasaland list: