Order of the British Empire, Dame Grand Cross awarded to Dame Katherine Furse (1875-1952) in 1916. Badge: A silver-gilt cross patonce enamelled blue. Obverse: In the centre, the seated figure of Britannia, surrounded by a red circle with the motto: 'FOR GOD AND THE EMPIRE'. Reverse: 'GRI'. The badge is suspended by a crown from a sash of rose-pink with grey edges. There is a spare, pre-1937 purple sash. Star. Silver with the same central medallion as the badge.

The daughter of writer John Addington Symonds (1840-1893), owing to her father and sister's tuberculosis, Katharine spent much of her youth in Switzerland . She developed an interest in winter sports, nursing and the fine and decorative arts. She married the artist Charles Wellington Furse and was the model for 'Diana of the Uplands' now in the Tate Gallery. Widowed by the outbreak of WWI, Katharine utilised her considerable management skills in organising Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachments. Unable to institute what she felt were necessary reforms, she resigned in 1917 and was head hunted by the Admiralty who offered her the Directorship of a naval organisation of women - the WRNS. Although the organisation only saw one year of war work before being disbanded, Katharine chose the name and the uniform and ensured its success. As the equivalent of a Rear-Admiral she outranked her sons who were serving as a naval cadet and midshipman.