Order of the Bath Facts for Kids

Military Badge of the Order of the Bath

A drawing of a military star, as awarded to Knights or Dames Grand Cross

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry. It was founded by George I, on 18 May 1725. The name comes from an old ceremony, first mentioned in 1128. In the ceremony, men participated in a vigil of fasting, prayer, and taking a bath. They did this on the day before they were made a knight. The ceremony was abolished in 1815.

The Order is made up of the Sovereign (the British Sovereign), the Great Master (Charles, Prince of Wales), and three classes of members: (Highest to lowest)

Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GCB)
Knight or Dame Commander (KCB or DCB)
Companion (CB)

Originally founded as a military order of chivalry, the star (or pip) is worn as army officers' rank insignia. The insignia is that of the Order of the Bath. Members of the order now belong to either the Civil or the Military Division. The Order's motto is Tria juncta in uno (Latin for "Three joined in one"). This is a reference to either the union of England, Scotland and Ireland, or to the Holy Trinity. A symbol of the Order that is seen over and over has three crowns in it. Another motto, Ich dien (German for "I serve") is used occasionally, but only by members of the Order who serve in the military.

The Order is the fourth oldest of the British Orders of Chivalry, after The Most Noble Order of the Garter, The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, and The Most Illustrious Order of St Patrick. The last of those Orders–which relates to Ireland, no longer a part of the United Kingdom–still exists, but is no longer active; no appointments have been made to it since 1934.

Images for kids

Mildmay Fane, 2nd Earl of Westmorland, KB, with sash, c. 1630
Sir Robert Walpole, the first Prime Minister, who used the Order of the Bath as a source of political patronage
Admiral Lord Rodney (appointed a Knight Companion in 1780) wearing the riband and star of the Order
Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Callaghan wearing the insignia of a military Companion of the Order
Sir Alexander Milne (1808–1896) was concurrently KCB (civil division) and GCB (military division); he is pictured wearing both sets of insignia.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Johns in his dress uniform, wearing the star, ribbon, and badge of a military Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Prince Albert, the Prince Consort, Great Master 1843–1861. During the 19th century, Knights Grand Cross wore their mantles over imitations of 17th-century dress. They now wear them over contemporary attire.
Sash and star of Grand Cross, civil division
Admiral Sir George Zambellas KCB (military division)
An embroidered representation, or "chaton", of the star of the civil division of the Order
The insignia of a Knight Grand Cross of the civil division of the order
Mantle of the Order
The insignia of a Knight Grand Cross of the military division of the order
Star and neck badge of a Knight Commander of the civil division of the order
Westminster Abbey with a procession of Knights of the Bath, by Canaletto, 1749
Banners of the senior Knights and Dames Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the Henry VII Lady Chapel in Westminster Abbey
Neck badge, awarded to Cecil Fane de Salis (1859-1948) in 1935
Star, awarded to Cecil Fane de Salis

Order of the Bath facts for kids

Images for kids

See also