Knight Bachelor

It is generally awarded for public service; amongst its recipients are all male judges of the ) is sometimes used erroneously. When the style "Sir" is awkward due to a subsequent appointment as a life peer or baronet (for example, the Baronet Sir William Boulton) recipients are sometimes exceptionally given permission to use this form of shorthand to signify that they have the additional honour.

The Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor was founded for the maintenance and consolidation of the Dignity of Knights Bachelor in 1908, and obtained official recognition from the Sovereign in 1912. The Society keeps records of all Knights Bachelor, in their interest.

Until 1926 Knights Bachelor had no insignia which they could wear, but in that year King George V issued a Warrant authorising the wearing of a badge on all appropriate occasions. The Knights Bachelor badge may be worn on all appropriate occasions upon the left side of the coat or outer garment of those upon whom the degree of Knight Bachelor has been conferred. Measuring 2⅜ inches in length and 1⅜ inches in width, it is described in Heraldic terms as follows:

“Upon an oval medallion of vermilion, enclosed by a scroll a cross-hilted sword belted and sheathed, pommel upwards, between two spurs, rowels upwards, the whole set about with the sword belt, all gilt”.

In 1974, The Queen issued a further warrant authorising the wearing on appropriate occasions of a neck badge, slightly smaller in size, and in miniature. In 1988 a new certificate of authentication, a knight's only personal documentation, was designed by the College Of Arms .

SEE ALSO

Bachelor

Knight Banneret

REFERENCES

Debretts

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Knight Bachelor

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