United Kingdom

John Lennon: national honours

English musician, member of the Beatles.¹

Honours

• Most Excellent Order of the British Empire ReturnedMember (MBE) · 1965

  Returned in 1969. His letter to the Queen said: 'I am returning this MBE in protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing'. The House of Commons Library says returning insignia is unofficial and does not change the Gazette record.

  ^1,2

Sources

1. NME, John Lennon's letter to the Queen discovered in record sleeve (28 October 2016)
2. House of Commons Library, Honours: refusal and removal