Knighthoods as they applied to AIF Generals.

Knighthoods

Next after medals came the orders of knighthood. Only two orders were in practice available to Australian generals of the Great War period: the Order of St Michael and St George and the Order of the Bath. The Order of St Michael and St George was for civil servants, especially diplomats and those involved with the administration of the colonies; the latter was principally a military order. The latter had more prestige, but limited numbers. In practice, the two were awarded for much the same deeds. As an award could only be conferred once, someone holding one would be given the other. The class of award was based upon the rank of the recipient; colonels and brigadier generals got the CB or CMG; major or lieutenant generals the KCB or KCMG; full generals the GCB or GCMG. Only two Australian generals were ever awarded the GCMG: Monash and Chauvel. Only 13 KCMG have been awarded to Australian military officers, of which eight went to Great War generals. The story with the KCB is similar; only 14 Australians have received this award, all but one military, and of the 13, ten went to Great War generals (although Blamey actually got his for the Second World War).