Awarded to Admiral Sir Max Kennedy Horton (1883-1951) in 1945. Badge: Maltese cross of eight points, enamelled white, each point tipped with a small gold ball and in each angle between the arms of the cross a lion. In the centre of the cross a device consisting of a rose, thistle and shamrock issuing from a sceptre and three Imperial crowns, surrounded by red enamel circle bearing the motto in gold. The circle is surrounded by two branches of laurel enamelled green and below is a blue enamel scroll inscription in gold. Badge and Star, Motto: 'TRIA JUNCTA IN UNO'. Scroll: 'ICH DEIN'. Suspended by a loop and ring from a crimson sash worn across the right shoulder with the badge pendant on the left hip. Star: Silver with usual device for military divison of the Order. Reverse: Plain with vertical pin fastening.

Horton entered the training ship ‘Britannia’ in 1898. A pioneer submariner, he was given command of the submarine ‘A1’ at the age of 22. In 1914 while in command of the submarine ‘E.9’ he sank the German light cruiser ‘Hecla’ and the destroyer ‘S116’ having penetrated the fortified harbour of Heligoland. For this action Horton was awarded the DSO. He was awarded a bar to his DSO in 1917 for services in the Baltic during 1914-15.
In 1920 he commanded a submarine flotilla in the Baltic against the Bolsheviks and was awarded a second bar. In 1922 he was put in command of a flotilla of ‘K’ class boats. He was promoted to Rear-Admiral in 1932 and to Vice-Admiral in 1936. Admiral Horton was in command of the Reserve Fleet 1937-9, which he brought to a state of preparedness by the time the war began. He also contributed to the defeat of the U boats as Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches, a post he held until the end of the war. He was promoted to Admiral in 1941 and created GCB in 1945.