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¶ Additional peers created last week numbered four, all Barons, all elevated for non-political reasons. First is Oil Tycoon Sir Charles Wakefield, onetime Lord Mayor of London. He prefers to be known as the patriotic champion of British supremacy in speed, having backed Major Sir Henry Seagrave in the latter's successful attempt to set a land speed record (231.36 m. p. h.) at Daytona Beach, Fla. last year. He also backed the flight to Australia of Sir Alan Cobham, "Lindbergh of Britain."
Second of the non-political barons is Sir William Joseph Noble, chairman of the Cairn Line of S. S. Ltd., onetime president of the United Kingdom's Chamber of Shipping. Next is Air Marshal Sir Hugh Montague Trenchard, who retired last week as Chief of Staff of the Royal Air Force and was succeeded by Air Marshal Sir John Maitland Salmond. Last of the new barons is Rt. Hon. Sir Willoughby Hyett Dickinson, alternate British Delegate to the League of Nations.
¶ Four baronets and 26 knights were created, none of international note except perhaps Louis Bernard Baron, son of the late, rich U. S. tobaccoman who was dubbed a baronet. Baronetcy is an honorable but mongrel rank half way between knighthood and peerage which entitles its proud possessor to be called "Sir," and to add to the name the abbreviation "Bart." In ascending order ranks in the British peerage are: Baron, Bishop, Viscount, Earl, Marquess, Duke.
¶ Miss Agnes Maude Royden, one of the first female preachers in England, who two years ago had her engagements to speak in Boston and Chicago cancelled because of rumors that she smoked openly and unashamed (TIME, Jan. 16, 1928), was created by His Majesty a Companion of Honor "for eminence in the religious life of the nation."
¶ Sir Abe Bailey, potent South African diamond tycoon, is husband of Lady Bailey, greatest British aviatrix, who has personally guided a plane from England to the nether tip of South Africa and back (TIME, Jan. 28). At the age of 40 she became last week Dame Mary Bailey—a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, a rank equivalent to knighthood.
¶ Last and least on the Royal New Year Honors List were Midshipman Cobham and Able Seaman Niven who received the Medal of the Military Division of the Order of the British Empire for bravery in connection with the explosion of a gun turret on the battleship Devonshire.