The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George
Overview
Instituted in 1818, The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George was originally awarded for distinguished service in the Mediterranean. By the end of the nineteenth century, the Order was expanded to include distinguished service in a foreign country. In modern usage, it is usually awarded for distinguished administrative or diplomatic service, however, several awards were made for military personnel for service during the First World War.
The Order has three classes, Knight and Dame Grand Cross (GCMG), Knight and Dame Commander (KCMG / DCMG), and Companion (CMG).
Description
The insignia of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George is a seven-point white enameled Maltese Asterisk. The obverse bears a central circular image of the St Michael holding a flaming sword and trampling Satan, while the reverse depicts St. George on horseback fighting a dragon. The images are surrounded by a dark blue ring bearing the Order's motto, "Auspicium Melioris Aevi ("Token of a better age").
Eligibility
The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George is Granted at the discretion of the monarch for exceptional service in a foreign country or for contributions to foreign and Commonwealth relations.
Queries & requests
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Wearing this honour
The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George is worn with Orders of Chivalry and Other Orders in the New Zealand Order of Wear.
For more information on how to wear and care for honours, medals, and awards:
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Nominating someone for this honour
Since the institution of the New Zealand Order of Merit on 30 May 1996, New Zealand no longer recommends individuals for the various British State Orders of Chivalry (e.g. Orders of the Bath, St Michael and St George and British Empire) and Orders (e.g. the Order of the Companions of Honour), and the honour of Knight Bachelor.
For further information, the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet has provided a history of the New Zealand Honours System(external link).
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Checking if this honour was awarded
Honours, medals, and awards bestowed on an individual for service in the New Zealand Armed Forces are recorded in their individual service record. NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals holds a collection of about 1.5 million service records relating to 420,000 New Zealand service personnel who served in New Zealand’s Military Forces after the First World War.
Service records are not currently digitised, but we can locate it and find the information you might be looking for or help you book a time for you to see the records in Trentham by completing the form on the Service Record page.