The Order of Burma was founded by Royal Warrant on 10 May 1940, and conferred in a single class.

[1] In September 1945 the royal warrant was amended to permit awards of the order for gallantry.

The award carried an allowance of one rupee a day for life, unless forfeited by misconduct.

Only 24 Burmese officers were ever made members of the order for long and loyal service.

[3] The badge of the order consisted of a gold rayed circle, 39 millimetres (1.5 in) in diameter, surmounted by an Imperial crown, with a central roundel showing a peacock displaying his tail, surrounded by the words ‘ORDER OF BURMA’.