Order of the Bath - GCB Sash (Ladies)
Full Size Ribbon

Order of the Bath Ladies Sash 56mm.

Founded by King George I in 1725, this Order recognises the work of senior military officials and civil servants.

The name derives from the elaborate medieval ceremony for Knighting, which traditionally involved bathing as a symbol of purification.

Originally a single grade (KB) the Order was re-organised in 1815 and formed in two divisions, Military and Civil. The Military division had three grades GCB, KCB and CB while the Civil retained the single Grand Cross class.  This was altered in 1847 when the Civil Division was re-structured into the same three classes as the Military.