has never been conferred on any officer below the rank of Major in the army and Commander im the navy.
The Badge for the Military Classes of the Order is a gold Maltese cross, of eight points, enamelled, argent; in the four angles, a lion passant-guardant, or.; in the centre, the rose, thistle, and shamrock, issuant from a sceptre between three imperial crowns, or within a circle, gules; thereon the Motto of the Order, surrounded by two branches of laurel, proper, issuing from an escrol, azure, inscribed Ich Dien (I serve), in letters of gold. It is worn by the Grand Crosses pendent from a red ribbon across the right shoulder, by the Knights Commanders from the neck, and by the Companions from the button-hole.
The Collar is of gold (weight, thirty ounces Troy weight), and is composed of nine imperial crowns, and eight roses, thistle, and shamrock, issuing from a sceptre, enamelled in their proper colours, tied or linked together with seventeen gold knots, enamelled white, having the badge of the Order pendent therefrom.
The Star of the Military Grand Crosses is formed of rays or flames of silver, thereon a gold Maltese cross, and in the centre, within the motto, branches of laurel, issuant as in the badge.
The Civil Knights Grand Crosses retain the old badge and star of the Order. The Star is of silver, formed with eight points or rays, charged with three imperial crowns, proper, upon a glory of silver rays, surrounded with a red circle, upon which is the motto of the Order. Their badge is of gold, composed of a rose, thistle and shamrock, issuing from a sceptre between three imperial crowns, encircled by the motto. The civil Knights Commanders wear the same badge, of a similar size, round the neck by a red ribbon, and the civil companions the same, but of a still smaller size, from the button-hole, pendent from a red ribbon.
