THE INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF MODERN HEROISM 175
forming part of a Dominion or colonial force regardless of race or color.^35
The chair cut short discussion by simply stating that Dominion troops were
eligible without restriction.^36
Ponsonby was equally accommodating to the Admiralty on the question
of including the Merchant Marine in the new warrant. Admiral Everett
cited the case of the merchantman SSOtakiand the conduct of her captain,
Archibald Bissett Smith, in a losing fight with the German raiderMoewein
- Smith went down with his ship after a gallant defense. All at the
Admiralty considered him well deserving of a Victoria Cross, but hesitated
to submit the recommendation on the grounds that making civilian crews
eligible for military awards would cause the Germans to treat them all as
combatants and shoot them on sight.^37
His argument for the Admiralty’s failure to recommend Smith is a bit
odd, as theOtakiwas, in fact, a combat vessel. Although not a commissioned
warship, she carried a 4.7-inch gun and engaged the much heavier armed
German vessel in a duel before being sunk.^38 Be that as it may, the Germans
had proved they would shoot on sight (and in the case of submarine warfare,
often without warning) both armed and unarmed vessels, which rendered
classing merchantmen as noncombatants a moot point. No one raised any
objection to the inclusion of the Merchant Marine, although there was some
discussion of ‘camouflaging’ the gazetting of such awards by listing the
winner with a postdated commission in the Naval Reserve, both to give
some protection to the merchant vessels and to avoid tipping the Germans
to any shipping intelligence.^39 It also served to place the Merchant Marine
under Admiralty control as far as awards were concerned.
Including the Merchant Marine opened the question of the status of the
civilian in general. There had been four civilian Crosses won during the
course of the Mutiny, but those had been brought in by a special warrant
of 6 July 1859, which was limited to services performed only during
the Indian conflict. There had also been a civilian VC during the Second
Afghan War, in which a civilian chaplain, James William Adams, rescued
some trapped troopers under fire. He also was brought in under a special
amending warrant on 6 August 1881; it was limited to members of the
Indian Ecclesiastical Establishment.^40
That civilians were capable of meeting the military standards of heroism
was amply demonstrated by existing cases. What was needed was a simple
blanket statement covering all civilians in all circumstances, tying up the
loose ends of the question. The main concern was controlling submissions.
If it were open to any civilian for any act they might consider courageous
the government would be swamped with self-recommendations every time