New England Online

Preface · About New England · Latest News

New England Online > Government & Politics > The Monarchy > Honours System

Honours System of New England

The Honours System of New England is a means of awarding for merit those who are deserving, either for achievement or service to the country. The awards exist within a graduated series of importance and with names and principles sometimes dating back centuries. The honours system consists of three types of award - honours, decorations and medals.

As the head of state, the monarch is the fount of honour for all honours, decorations and medals, but the system for identifying and recognising candidates to honour is carried out by a non-partisan Honours Committee. Various divisions have been created in the Order of New England, as well as the awards for military service, bravery, merit and achievement which take the form of decorations or medals.

• Awards of Valour and Gallantry
  • The Cross of Valour
  • The Cross of Gallantry
• Orders of Chivalry
  • The Order of New England
  • The Military Order of King Michael
• Bravery Decorations
  • Gallantry Star
  • Bravery Medal
• Military Decorations
  • The Military Cross
  • Distinguished Service Cross
  • Distinguished Service Star
  • Military Service Medal
  • Mentioned in Dispatches
• Royal Gifts
  • Order of Merit
  • Order of Servetus
  • Coronation & Jubilee Medals
• Civilian and Military Service Medals

Awards of Valour and Gallantry

The Cross of Valour (post nominal CV) is the highest recognition for valour in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to members of the New England Defence Force. It is the highest military honour in New England and can also be given posthumously. The award was established in 2012, and was immediately granted to three members of the Militia who had performed daring actions during the Civil War. It has since been granted a further four times, all during the Five Day War.

The Cross of Gallantry (post nominal CG) is the second highest military award in New England, and is also the highest civilian honour that can be awarded. The Cross of Gallantry is awarded for the highest acts of conspicuous gallantry not in the face of the enemy. Like the Cross of Valour, the Cross of Gallantry is also seldom granted except in situations where people have show acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril. To date, there have been sixteen recipients of the award.

[Top of Page]

Orders of Chivalry

The Most Noble and Grand Order of New England (post nominal KNE, CNE, FNE and MNE) is the highest honour in the nation for actions excluding acts of valour and gallantry. The Grand Order was constituted by the King in 2012 consists of the Monarch, as well as a Governor, Registrar, Herald, twenty-four knights, and other companions deemed to have carried out extraordinary public service to the nation. The motto of the order is "Omnium rerum principia parva sunt", or "Everything has a small beginning".

The Most Honourable Military Order of King Michael (post nominal KM) is the second of New England's two orders of chivalry, and is specifically for New England's soliders, sailors and airmen. The Order was established by King James I in 2036 and consists of the Monarch, the Grand Master, and twelve companions deemed to have performed honourable service to the nation as a member of the New England Defence Force and it's supporting agencies. The motto of the order is "Quo Fas Et Gloria Ducunt", or "Where Right and Glory Leads".

[Top of Page]

Bravery Decorations

The Gallantry Star (post nominal GS) is New England's second highest civilian award for bravery. The star is awarded for acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril. It is ranked second as a bravery decoration, and as of 2052, 500 awards have been made.

The Bravery Medal (post nominal BM) is awarded for acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances. The decorations recognise acts of bravery by members of the community who selflessly put themselves in jeopardy to protect the lives or property of others. It is ranked third as a bravery decoration, and as of 2052, 843 awards have been made.

[Top of Page]

Military Decorations

In the New England Defence Force decorations are given to military personnel or units by the monarch for heroism in battle or distinguished service. There is a strict hierarchy to the system of decorations, with two bravery awards at the top, followed five lesser medals granted for specifically defined actions. Decisions as to whom is awarded a decoration is the prerogative of the monarch on the advice of the Joint Defence Headquarters - Chiefs of Staff Council. The awards are only granted during wartime, with most being granted during the Civil War and the Five Day War. Additional awards have been granted for NEDF personnel on United Nations missions.

The Military Cross (post nominal MC) is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the New England Defence Forces for conspicuous gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land, air and sea. The MC can also be awarded posthumously. Bars are added to the ribbon for holders who receive additional awards of the MC. To date, there have been 125 recipients of the award.

The Distinguished Service Cross (post nominal DSC) is the military decoration awarded to personnel of the New England Defence Forces for gallantry in action against the enemy on land, air or sea missions. The DSC may also be awarded posthumously. Bars are added to the ribbon for holders who receive additional awards of the DSC. To date, there have been 210 recipients of the award.

The Distinguished Service Star (post nominal DSS) is the military decoration awarded to personnel of the New England Defence Forces for distinguished service in action on land, air and sea, and may be awarded posthumously. Bars are added to the ribbon for holders who receive additional awards of the DSS. To date, there have been 360 recipients of the award, with 25 of these recipents also awarded an additional bar.

The Military Service Medal (post nominal MSM) is the military decoration awarded to personnel of the New England Defence Forces for meritorious service in action on land, air and sea. The MSM may also be awarded posthumously. Bars are added to the ribbon for holders who receive additional awards of the MSM. To date, there have been 448 recipients of the award.

The King's Medal (post nominal MK) is an award to all branches of the New England Defence Force personnel for acts of gallantry, distinguished or meritorious service in peacetime, or actions not in the face of the enemy. The MK may also be awarded posthumously. Bars are added to the ribbon for holders who receive additional awards of the MK. To date, there have been 780 recipients of the award.

The act of being Mentioned in Dispatches is a report from a senior military commander in the New England Defence Force to his superiors, detailing the conduct of military operations. If a subordinate officer or soldier performs a noteworthy or commendable action he/she is said to have been mentioned in dispatches. The award is relatively common, does not confer a medal or post nominal title.

[Top of Page]

Royal Gifts

Royal Gifts are he personal awards of the Monarch alone, they are not awarded on the advice of the Honours Committee, but are instead granted to individuals for service that has attracted the attention of the monarch or his family. The royal gifts are divided into two categories: The Order of Servetus and the Order of Merit. Awards to both categories are restricted in number to forty-nine each.

The Order of Merit (post nominal OM) is awarded for personal service to Monarch, and is granted to long serving ministers, members of defence force and civil servants for meritorious service to the nation and the King. Recipients of the Medal include John Tudor, First Minister from 2032 to 2040 and Edward Lindsey, Private Secretary to the King from 2012 to 2026.

The Order of Servetus (post nominal OS) was constituted by the King in 2046 for companions who have made significant contributions to arts, literature, music, science, politics, industry and religion. The order is an exclusive one, with fortny-nine recipients, all of whom are required to hold a postgraduate degree.

Coronation & Jubilee Medals are issued by the monarch at particular times in his or her reign. The medals are usually granted to members of the Civil Defence Service, Maritime Rescue Service New England Defence Force, New England Urban Fire Service, Royal New England Accident and Emergency Service, and the Royal New England Constabulary who have completed five or more years of meritorious service. The medals were issued in 2012, 2037 and 2045. The award is relatively common and does not confer a post nominal title.

[Top of Page]

Other Civilian and Military Service Medals

There are a large number of civilian and military service medals considered generally to be of the lowest degree in the New England honours system. A service medal is awarded to a member of the military or emergency service who joins, or is already serving, during a designated time period. No other requirement is needed to obtain the service medal other than a person must simply be a member of the NEDF or the emergency services.

There also exists a number of campaign medals, which are awarded to an individual who participates in a designated military operation or performs duty in a geographical theatre. There are a number of campaign awards for action during the Civil War, Five Day War, occupation of Australian territory, or United Nations missions.

[Top of Page]

Home · Site Map · Contact Us · Search
Legal Disclaimer · Site Acknowledgments

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.5 Australia License.