GBE (Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire)
KBE (Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire)
DBE (Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire)
CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire)
OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire)
MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire)
BEM (Medallist of the Order of the British Empire)
Order of the British Empire was instituted by King George V on 4 June 1917 and is conferred for important services rendered to the Crown. It is awarded to both men and women. The Order consists of the Sovereign, the Grand Master (presently HRH The Duke of Edinburgh) and six classes as listed below. In 1918 the Order was divided into military and civil divisions.
The BEM medal was founded in 1917 and was awarded for “meritorious” actions by civilians or military personnel, although the recipients did not attend a royal investiture.
It was scrapped in 1993 but in 2012, to coincide with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee the then Prime Minister David Cameron announced its revival and about 300 will be awarded annually to community volunteers.
