Short answers, pulled from the story.
King George V signed the founding document on the 4th of June 1917. He created this new order to recognize important services rendered by men and women across the Empire during World War I.
The order consists of five distinct classes ranging from Knight Grand Cross down to Member. Recipients of the top two ranks may use the titles Sir or Dame before their names.
During World War II, more than 33,000 appointments were made to the Military Division between 1939 and 1946. Gallantry awards eventually evolved into the Queen's Gallantry Medal in 1974.
Canada stopped recommending candidates for British honours in 1966 before creating the Order of Canada. Australia ceased recommendations entirely by 1992 following bipartisan agreement on federal and state levels.
Prime Minister John Major implemented major reforms to the honours system in May 1993. His goal was to ensure exceptional service received wider recognition without automatic awards.
John Lennon returned his MBE insignia on the 25th of November 1969 as part of ongoing peace protests. He argued that entertainers deserved recognition just as much as soldiers who killed people during wartime.