The 1926 Birthday Honours were a set of appointments by King George V to orders and honours of the United Kingdom and the British Empire, announced in conjunction with the official celebration of the sovereign’s birthday. The honours list was published in the London Gazette on 3 June 1926.
Purpose and Context
Birthday Honours are traditionally released twice a year—once at the New Year and once on the monarch’s official birthday—to recognize the achievements and service of individuals across a broad range of fields, including public service, the military, the arts, science, industry, and charitable work.
Main Orders and Decorations Included
| Order / Decoration | Rank(s) awarded in 1926 |
|---|---|
| Knight Bachelor | Knight Bachelor |
| The Most Honourable Order of the Bath | GCB, KCB, CB (Military and Civil Divisions) |
| The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George | GCMG, KCMG, CMG |
| The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire | GBE, KBE/DBE, CBE, OBE, MBE (Military and Civil Divisions) |
| The Royal Victorian Order | GCVO, KCVO, CVO, LVO, MVO |
| The Order of the Companions of Honour | CH (single‑member order) |
| Meritorious Service Medal | Various categories for police, fire services, and other civil services |
| Military honours | Specific gallantry and long‑service awards (e.g., Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross) were also announced in the same issue of the Gazette. |
Publication and Record
The official announcement appeared in The London Gazette, issue 39521, pages 3380 – 3415. The Gazette entry provides the full list of recipients, their ranks, and the specific honour conferred. Subsequent newspapers and official parliamentary records reproduced the list for public awareness.
Notable Features
- The 1926 list continued the post‑World‑War I practice of recognising both wartime service and peacetime contributions to the Empire.
- Several appointments reflected the expanding role of the civil service and the colonial administration, with recipients drawn from the United Kingdom, dominions, colonies, and protectorates.
- Military divisions of the orders largely honoured senior officers of the Royal Navy, Army, and Royal Air Force for distinguished service.
Reference
- The London Gazette, 3 June 1926, “Supplement to the Gazette” (official record of the 1926 Birthday Honours).
For comprehensive biographical details of individual recipients, consulting the London Gazette issue cited above or the National Archives’ honours records is recommended.
