Order of the Bath

The Order of the Bath is an order of chivalry and was founded in 1725 for service of the highest calibre.  It is mainly awarded to officers of the Armed Services, as well as to a small number of civil servants and is one of the top ranking British Orders of Knighthood.  

The order has a civil and military division and is awarded in the following ranks:

GCB (Knight/Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath)

KCB (Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath)

DCB (Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath)

CB (Companion of the Order of the Bath)

The insignia is significantly different, with the military badge being the most ornate.

The Order takes is name from the symbolic bathing which in former times was often part of the preparation of a candidate for knighthood.