This British Order of Knighthood was established in 1917 by King George V to salute meritorious achievement in military, political, or civilians circles. In descending order the five classes of the order proceed thus; Knight or Dame Grand Cross (GBE), Knight or Dame Commander (KBE or DBE), Commander (CBE), Officer (OBE), and Member (MBE). To be in receipt of the GBE or KBE / DBE the person on whom the honour is bestowed ascends to Knighthood, and thereafter is known as Sir or Dame. Separate to and beneath the five classes of the Order, though associated with it, is the British Empire Medal, where one is honoured but deemed ineligible for admittance to the Order; the equivalent of being Mentioned In Despatches, as it were. Typically it is awarded to civilians or to persons in the armed forces below the rank of Warrant Officer. The award of the British Empire Medal ceased in 1990.
BC = Dutch Bronze Cross
BL = Dutch Bronze Lion
DCM = Distinguished Conduct Medal
DSO = Distinguished Service Order
MC = Military Cross
POW = Prisoner of War
1st Airborne Division
Commander of the British Empire (CBE)
|
Name |
Unit |
Remarks |
|
1st Airlanding Brigade HQ |
Evacuated |
Officer of the British Empire (OBE)
|
Name |
Unit |
Remarks |
|
HQ, Royal Army Service Corps |
BC |
|
|
Lt-Col Tom Stephenson |
Divisional Signals |
Evacuated |
|
Divisional HQ |
POW, Escaped, DSO |
Member of the British Empire (MBE)
|
Name |
Unit |
Remarks |
|
Maj Kenneth James Stuart Andrews |
- |
- |
|
10th Battalion |
POW, Escaped |
|
|
RSM Michael Briody |
Glider Pilot Regiment |
BL |
|
Capt Stanley John Busby |
- |
- |
|
156th Battalion |
Evacuated |
|
|
156th Battalion |
Wounded, POW, DCM |
|
|
Divisional HQ |
Evader |
|
|
1st Parachute Brigade HQ |
POW |
|
|
16 Para Field Ambulance |
POW, Escaped, MC |
|
|
3rd Battalion |
POW |
|
|
1st Para Squadron |
POW, Escaped |
|
|
1 Forward Observation Unit |
Evacuated |
|
|
Light Regiment |
Evacuated |
|
|
RSM John Sidney Siely |
Light Regiment |
Evacuated |
|
Lt John Tiernan |
181 Field Ambulance |
- |
|
RSM George Henry Threakall |
- |
- |
|
1 Forward Observation Unit |
Evacuated |
British Empire Medal (BEM)
|
Name |
Unit |
Remarks |
|
Sgmn D. F. Alder |
Divisional Signals |
- |
|
Sgt K. Backwell |
1st Airlanding Brigade HQ |
- |
|
Divisional Signals |
- |
|
|
L/Cpl Laurance Goodman |
1st Battalion |
- |
|
S/Sgt Samuel Findlay Johnstone |
Glider Pilot Regiment |
- |
|
Reconnaissance Squadron |
- |
|
|
10th Battalion |
- |
|
|
Light Regiment |
Wounded, Evacuated |
|
|
Sgt Harry Venes |
Reconnaissance Squadron |
- |
