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

Gilt collar of linked Maltese Crosses, English lions and cyphers of St Michael and St George, with, at the centre, two winged lions of St Mark each holding a bible and seven arrows, representing the Ionian Islands.

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 collar of the Order of St Michael and St George is worn, with the badge of the Order suspended from it, by GCMGs on certain formal occasions.

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.