Star, Order of St Michael and St George, Knight Grand Cross, awarded to General Sir Cecil Macready, 1918

Badge in the form of a silver 'Maltese asterisk', a seven-armed variant of the Maltese Cross, with gold rays between each arm and a red St George's Cross. In the centre is an enamelled image of St Michael with his foot on the neck of Satan tethered by a chain, with a gold and blue surround with the Order of St Michael and St George's Latin motto, 'Auspicium Melioris Aevi' (Token of a Better Age).

General Sir Cecil Frederick Nevill 'Make-Ready' Macready was born on 7 May 1862. The son of an actor, he was commissioned into the Gordon Highlanders in 1881. He served in the Egyptian War of 1882, staying on with the military police in Alexandria until 1889. Macready was promoted to major in 1899 and served with the 2nd Battalion, Gordon Highlanders in South Africa during the Boer War (1899-1902). A series of staff posts followed and Macready was involved in the formation of the Territorial Force and military aid to the civil power operations including the employment of soldiers during labour disputes and the deployment of troops to Ireland during World War One (194-1918). From 1920, through the closing stages of the Irish War of Independence and the subsequent Irish Civil War, Macready held the post of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief in Ireland.

The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George was an order of chivalry created in 1818 by King George IV when he was Prince Regent. Originally awarded to high ranking military and non-military personnel serving in territories in the Mediterranean region such as Malta and the Ionian Islands, the award was widened to include those in foreign and Commonwealth service. The order has three classes: Knight Grand Cross or Dame Grand Cross (GCMG); Knight Commander (KCMG) or Dame Commander (DCMG); Companion (CMG). The star of the Order of St Michael and St George is worn by Knights Grand Cross, Dames Grand Cross, Dames Commanders and Knights Commanders on the left breast. Although the insignia was altered in 2011 to address accusations of racism, with the skin colour of Satan changed from black to white, further controversy arose in 2020 over the badge's imagery of subjugation and repression.

From a group of orders and medals awarded to General Sir C F N Macready (1862-1946), Gordon Highlanders, Adjutant General to the British Forces and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Ireland, 1920-1922.