Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire

Catalog description

The Knight Grand Commander of the Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE) was the highest class of the Order of the Indian Empire, a British imperial order of chivalry instituted by Queen Victoria in 1878 and expanded into three classes in 1887. It recognised distinguished service connected with the administration and governance of British India. The three grades were Knight Grand Commander (GCIE), Knight Commander (KCIE), and Companion (CIE). The Order ceased to be awarded following Indian independence in 1947. General Claude John Eyre Auchinleck was appointed Knight Grand Commander on 20 December 1940, after which he used the post-nominal GCIE.