Language selection

Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada

Search

Annex B – The most venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem

Table of contents
  1. The Order of St. John of Jerusalem was established after the First Crusade to maintain a hospital in Jerusalem for the care of the sick and wounded crusaders. A Grand Priory of the Order was established in London (UK) in 1831 and was granted a Royal Charter by Queen Victoria in 1888. Since then, the Monarch is the Sovereign Head and Patron of the Order.
  2. Since 1990, the Order has been considered a Canadian Order and is part of the Canadian Honours System. His Majesty The King is the Sovereign Head of the Order, His Royal Highness Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, KG, GCVO, is the Grand Prior of the Order and the GG is the Prior of the Priory and Chief Officer of the Order in Canada.
  3. This honour is administered by the Order of St. John. The relevant portions of the Royal Charters and Statutes governing appointments in the Order is reproduced in Annex B, Appendix 1.

Top of page

Eligibility and criteria

  1. Canadians who have performed good services for the Order, mainly through its two foundations; the St. John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem and the St. John Ambulance, may be admitted to the Order. There are five levels to the Order and usually, one is admitted at the lowest grade and is later promoted through the grades when further accomplishments justify it. The grades are Bailiff or Dame Grand Cross, Knight or Dame of Justice or of Grace, Commander, Officer and Member (formerly known as Serving Brother or Sister).

Top of page

Nominations

  1. Each year the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem invites the DND to submit its recommendations for honours of the Order.
  2. The DH&R is responsible for the nomination process of DND’s military, civilian or volunteer candidates for the honours of the Order where the work has been to the benefit of DND.
  3. Admission to and promotion in the Order are honours bestowed by the Sovereign in recognition of exceptional services and support given to the Order.
  4. Nominations must demonstrate the nominee’s past contributions that further the aims and objectives of the Order.
  5. Nominations will be made on the basis of the quantity and quality of work, sustained volunteer service, contribution of time, skills and resources, and an ongoing commitment to support the mission of St. John.
  6. Nominations must highlight the outcomes of the work for which recognition is sought and demonstrate their impact.
  7. In accordance with Chapter 2, each recommendation shall be forwarded by the Commanding Officer (CO) of the member directly to National Defence Headquarters/Directorate of Honours and Recognition (NDHQ/DH&R) no later than 1 February each year. In the case of a promotion in the order, the recommendation will only refer to merit that has been demonstrated and services that have been rendered since the appointment or last promotion. In all cases, the nominee's personal information, such as home address and phone number, are to be included in the heading. A citation of less than 25 words suitable for public use (no abbreviations or military jargon) outlining reasons for the appointment/promotion or award. Any supporting documentation such as letters of appreciation, etc.
  8. Nominations are reviewed once a year by a Department of National Defence St. John Honours and Awards Committee and those that are supported are then forwarded to the St John National Honours and Awards Committee for consideration.
  9. DH&R and the aforementioned DND Committee will only accept those nominations where the majority of the accomplishments highlighted are in relation to the DND Special Centre for First Aid and/or where DND is the main beneficiary of the services rendered by the nominee. This would include providing first aid training to military personnel, cadets, military families, organizing first aid competitions for these groups, etc. Military personnel and DND civilians who perform good work for the Order through the local St. John Brigades or provincial councils should be considered for recognition through those channels.

Top of page

Insignia

  1. The badge of the Order consists of a true Maltese cross, an eight-pointed cross in white enamel set in silver-coloured metal. The cross is embellished in each of its principal angles with alternating lions and unicorns, a lion being in the top left and bottom right angles.
  2. The insignia have a ring attached to the top through which passes the ribbon. On neck badges, there is a larger elongated ring through which the ribbon passes.
  3. The ribbon for all grades of the Order is a black watered ribbon, 38 mm wide (with the exception of the sashes for the Bailiff or Dame Grand Cross which are described below).
  4. Only the insignia of the highest grade a person has been admitted or promoted to is worn.
  5. The insignia of the Order shall be worn on the CF uniform in accordance with A-AD-265-000/AG-001, Canadian Forces Dress Instructions, and in the sequence prescribed in the Canadian Orders, Decorations and Medals Directive (all grades of the Order rank in the same position of the Order of Precedence); after Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) and before any provincial and territorial order, and in the following manner depending on the grade:
    1. The insignia of a Bailiff or Dame Grand Cross consists of a breast star and a sash badge. The star is in the shape of the badge of the Order, 92 mm across, in gold and enamel but without embellishments (lions and unicorns in the angles), worn on the left breast, below any medals. The sash badge is in the shape of the badge of the Order, 82 mm across, in gold and enamel with embellishments worn on the left hip suspended from a 102 mm wide sash (57 mm for Dames) that passes over the right shoulder.
    2. The insignia of a Knight or Dame of Justice or of Grace consists of a breast star and a neck badge. The breast star is in the shape of the badge of the Order, 76 mm across, in gold and enamel with embellishments for Justice, and in silver and enamel with embellishments for Grace. The neck badge is in the shape of the badge of the Order, 45 mm across, with embellishments, in gold and enamel for Justice; and silver and enamel for Grace.

    3. The insignia of a Commander is a neck badge in the shape of the badge of the Order, 45 mm across, in silver and enamel.

      NOTE

      Dames and female Commanders usually wear the neck badge on a bow on the left shoulder.

    4. The insignia of an Officer is the badge of the Order, 38 mm across, in silver and enamel and is worn on the left breast like other full-size decorations and medals.
    5. The insignia of a Member is the badge of the Order, 38 mm across, in silver (without enamel) and is also worn on the left breast.
    6. The undress ribbon is identical for all grades and bears a small silver Maltese cross in its centre.
    Figure 9B-1 Table of Criteria for Appointments to the Five Grades of the Order of St. John
    Bailiff or Dame Grand Cross (GCStJ)Footnote * Appointments are made at His Majesty’s pleasure.
    Knights or Dames (KStJ/DStJ)Footnote * For those who have successfully demonstrated leadership at a national or regional level, in a position carrying major responsibility or have demonstrated exceptional leadership and performed meritorious service at a local level.
    Commanders (CStJ)Footnote * For those who have successfully demonstrated leadership at a regional level, in a position carrying substantial responsibility or for having demonstrated exceptional leadership and performed meritorious service at a local level.
    Officers (OStJ)Footnote * For those who have successfully demonstrated leadership at a regional level in a position carrying substantial responsibility or for having demonstrated leadership at a local level in a position carrying major responsibility.
    Members (MStJ)Footnote * For those who have performed good and devoted service to the Order, through sustained voluntary commitment of time, skills and/or resources to St. John.

    Top of page

    Other St. John honours and awards

    1. Nominations can also be made for other awards of the Order (as listed in Figure 9B-2). These awards recognize distinguished service to the Order or an exemplary deed or activity that does not meet the criteria for admission to or promotion in the Order.
    2. The Service Medal shall be worn on the CF uniform in accordance with A-AD-265-000/AG-001, Canadian Forces Dress Instructions, and in the sequence prescribed in the Canadian Orders, Decorations and Medals Directive, after the Queen’s Medal for Champion Shot.
    3. The Service Medal is circular medal of 38 mm in diameter bearing:
      1. on the obverse a veiled effigy of Queen Victoria facing right in a circular field bordered by a beaded edge. Between the beaded edge and the edge of the medal itself appears the legend VICTORIA + D + BRITT + REG + F + D + IND + IMP; and
      2. on the reverse, the Royal Arms within the Garter bearing the legend HONI ∙ SOIT ∙ QUI ∙ MAL ∙ Y ∙ PENSE. Above this is the Imperial Crown and below it, the Prince of Wales feathers. On either side is the badge of the Order, each bearing a shield, the one of the left charged with the arms of the Order and that on the right, the arms of the Prince of Wales. The whole rests upon a sprig of St. John’s Wort. The central motif is surrounded by a border bearing the words VENERABILISSIMUS ∙ ORDO ∙ HOSPITALIS ∙ SANCTI ∙ JOHANNIS ∙ HIEROSOLYMITANI ∙ PRO ∙ OFFICIO ∙ ANGLIA.
    4. A claw at the top of the medal is attached to a straight, slotted bar.
    5. The Service Medal is initially awarded in silver with additional Bars for subsequent periods of eligible service up to and including 45 years of service. For 50 years or more of service, the Service Medal is awarded in gilt with additional gilt Bars for subsequent periods of eligible service and is worn in lieu (and not in addition to) of the silver Service Medal and Bars.
    6. The Service Medal ribbon is 38 mm wide and consists of 5 equal stripes of black, white, black, white and black. The ribbon worn with the gilt version of the Service Medal includes a gold stripe superimposed upon the central black stripe.
    7. The bars are laurelled with a Maltese cross in the center.
    8. On the silver Service medal, a silver bar is awarded for each additional five years of service (minimum of 60 hours per year) up to a maximum of three. A gilt bar is worn instead of four silver ones and a gilt bar is added for each additional 5 year period of service to a maximum of four, representing 45 years of service. At 50 years of service, the gilt Service Medal is awarded with gilt Bars for every additional 5 year period of service.
    9. The bars are denoted on the undress ribbon by the wear of a corresponding number of silver or gilt Maltese cross devices.
    10. Recipients of the Chancellor’s Commendation and the Provincial/Territorial Commendation (known as Adjunct Training Centre Chair’s Commendation when awarded by DND Special Centre) are authorized to wear the insignia on the CF uniform in accordance with A-AD-265-000/AG-001, Canadian Forces Dress Instructions, which also includes guidelines for the wearing of insignia with civilian attire. The insignia consists in a gold (Chancellor’s) or silver (Provincial/Territorial) bar bearing the badge of the Order with the arms of the cross enameled white. The insignia is accompanied by a lapel pin for wear in civilian attire when medals are not worn.
    11. Recipients of the Life-Saving Award (Gold or Silver) are authorized to wear the insignia on the CF uniform in accordance with A-AD-265-000/AG-001, Canadian Forces Dress Instructions, provided the act recognized by the award has not been recognized by another wearable honour or award such as a Canadian Bravery Decoration or a commendation. The insignia consists in a gold or silver pin in the shape of a shield, enamelled black, bearing the badge of the Order with the arms of the cross enameled white, under the shield appear branches of laurel leaves.
    Figure 9B-2 Other St. John Honours and Awards
    Mention Criteria for Other St. John Honours and Awards Process/Guidelines
    Service Medal For those on active service on or after 1 January 2020, awarded for 10 years of volunteer service for the Order at a minimum rate of 60 recorded volunteer hours per year. The eligible years need not be consecutive. Bars are awarded for additional periods of 5 years of eligible service. (refer to paragraph 26 above).

    Application forms may be obtained by writing to: DHROrdersandDecorations.DDHR
    ordresetdecorations@forces.gc.ca    .

    Because such volunteer service is not systemically tracked in DND, the onus is on the volunteer to keep careful records of their volunteer hours (using form DND 4247) and regularly have them confirmed by the signature of a responsible superior who can attest to the volunteer nature and the quantity of the service performed.

    “Volunteer service” in this instance means either unpaid service or service for which no other forms of compensation (such as time in lieu) are provided. This means a person whose primary responsibility in their paid employment is to provide training would not count first aid training performed during regular hours. However, if this person, on their own time (evenings and weekends), provides training to reserve units, cadets, families, etc, this time would count. If a paid person whose primary duties are unrelated to training takes time away from their primary duties to provide first aid training and they have to make up for that time later to complete their primary duties (without getting time in lieu), this would also count.

    Provided the aforementioned spirit is met, the volunteer service may take three forms:

    1. Administration: includes organisation and management of St. John first aid training, planning, committee work and participation in board meetings.
    2. Training: the actual delivery of St. John first aid instruction.
    3. Duty: the performance of St. John community service by providing first aid services at public events.
    Priory Vote of Thanks A certificate signed by the GG as Prior of the Order to recognize good services to the Order which do not meet the criteria for admission to the Order. Nominations process as described in paragraph 11.
    Chancellor’s Commendation Recognizes a particularly meritorious contribution to the Order on the national scene, an exemplary deed or activity in the pursuit of the objectives of St. John that is worthy of national recognition. Nominations process as described in paragraph 11.
    Provincial/ Territorial Commendation (known as Adjunct Training Centre Chair’s Commendation when awarded by DND Special Centre) Recognizes a particularly meritorious contribution to the Order on the provincial scene, an exemplary deed or activity in the pursuit of the objectives of St. John that is worth of provincial or regional recognition. Nominations process as described in paragraph 11.
    St. John Ambulance Life-Saving Award (Risk of Life) in Gold Recognizes individuals, or groups of individuals, who have saved or attempted to save a life through the administration of first aid knowledge and skills, where a degree of risk to life exists. Recognition of life-saving acts in the CF is through nomination for either the Canadian Bravery Decorations (refer to Chapter 9, Annex D) or the CF commendations (refer to Chapter 9, Annex G). However, should a CF member receive this Life-Saving Award further to a nomination made by another organization, such as a St. John Ambulance Brigade, the award is authorized for wear on the CF uniform, provided the act in question has not been recognized by another wearable award such as a Canadian Bravery Decoration or a commendation.
    St. John Ambulance Life-Saving Award (Non-Risk of Life) in Silver Recognizes individuals, or groups of individuals, who have saved or attempted to save a life through the application of first aid knowledge and skills, where no risk to life exists.

    Top of page

    Investitures

    1. The insignia of the Order are normally presented at formal investitures in Ottawa or in the provincial and territorial capitals. CF members attending those events do so at their own expense and no TD shall be authorized in connection with these events.

    Top of page

Page details

Date modified: