Knight Bachelor
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The dignity of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It refers to a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organized Orders of Chivalry. Knights Bachelor are the most ancient sort of British knight, existing during the reign of King Henry III, but they rank below members in the various orders. There is no female equivalent and women deserving an honour of this rank are appointed Dames of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) instead.
It is generally awarded for public service; amongst its recipients are all male judges of the High Court of England and Wales. Like other knights, Knights Bachelor are styled "Sir". Knights Bachelor are not entitled to use post-nominal letters after their name [1], but "Kt" (note the lowercase 't', which distinguishes it from "KT", the post-nominals of a Knight of the Thistle) is sometimes used erroneously. When the style "Sir" is awkward due to a subsequent appointment, for example as a baronet (e.g., the Baronet Sir William Boulton, Bt), recipients are sometimes exceptionally given permission to use this form of shorthand to signify that they have the additional honour.
The Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor was founded for the maintenance and consolidation of the Dignity of Knights Bachelor in 1908, and obtained official recognition from the Sovereign in 1912. The Society keeps records of all Knights Bachelor, in their interest.
Until 1926 Knights Bachelor had no insignia which they could wear, but in that year King George V issued a Warrant authorising the wearing of a badge on all appropriate occasions. The Knights Bachelor badge may be worn on all appropriate occasions upon the left side of the coat or outer garment of those upon whom the degree of Knight Bachelor has been conferred. Measuring 2⅜ inches in length and 1⅜ inches in width, it is described in heraldic terms as follows:
Upon an oval medallion of vermilion, enclosed by a scroll a cross-hilted sword belted and sheathed, pommel upwards, between two spurs, rowels upwards, the whole set about with the sword belt, all gilt.
In 1974, Queen Elizabeth II issued a further warrant authorising the wearing on appropriate occasions of a neck badge, slightly smaller in size, and in miniature. In 1988 a new certificate of authentication, a knight's only personal documentation, was designed by the College of Arms.
It is possible to be a junior member of an order of chivalry and a Knight Bachelor without being a knight of that order.
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| British honours system |
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| Current Orders Garter | Thistle | Bath | St Michael and St George | Distinguished Service | Royal Victorian | Merit | Imperial Service | British Empire | Companions of Honour |
| Old Orders St Patrick | Royal Guelphic | Star of India | Indian Empire | Crown of India | Victoria and Albert | Burma |
| Other Honours and Appointments Hereditary peer | Life peer | Privy Counsellor | Baronet | Knight | St John | ADC | Other orders and decorations |
