The CH was founded in 1917 to reward those that have rendered conspicuous service of national importance in the fields of arts, literature, music, science, politics, industry and religion. The Order comprises only 65 living members.
I have only seen two warrants and so it is difficult to extrapolate too much from them. Both are hand written, suggesting that a pre-printed warrant was not used, probably due to the small numbers required.
Seal
The seal of the Order is described in the statutes as: upon a white field, a representation of the Badge of the Order proper, impaled with Our Royal Arms, with the following circumscription, “The Seal of the Order of the Companions of Honour.” The seal in use does not conform to this description. It only uses part of the badge, the knight in armour by a tree, rather than the whole badge.
Other Signatures
Warrants are countersigned by the Secretary and Registrar of the Order.
Case Study – Sir Frederick William Mallandaine Ashton, OM, CH, CBE
Ashton was a ballet dancer and choreographer. He was awarded the CH in 1970. The warrant is written completely by hand.
