186 AWARDED FOR VALOUR
the majority of the test cases that defined the nature of heroism taking place
in the first 50 years of the Cross’s existence. During this period 521 Crosses
were bestowed. The new paradigm of heroism was created during the First
World War and set into statute during the interservice conference at the end
of the war. During the four years of the First World War and in operations
connected with mopping up the aftermath, 634 Crosses were granted.
Between 1940 and 2006 only 196 Victoria Crosses were granted, and no
significant changes in the statutory parameters of the award were made.
Thus, the heavy concentration on the formative phases of the Cross. The
decisions reached by the committee in 1918 still govern the VC to this day.
Oddly enough, one of the hypothetical problems discussed in the
committee meetings that had generated the most debate never materialized
in the Second World War. Admiral Everett was adamant that the Merchant
Marine be included, but not a single VC went to the Merchant Marine during
the entire course of the war. While several members of the Royal Naval
Reserve did receive Crosses, all of them were on active duty at the time:
On 14 February 1942 in the Java Sea, HMS Li Wo, a patrol vessel,
formerly a passenger steamer, commanded by [Temporary] Lieutenant
[Thomas] Wilkinson, sighted two enemy convoys, one escorted by
Japanese warships. The Lieutenant told his crew he had decided to engage
the convoy and fight to the last in the hope of inflicting some damage –
this decision drew resolute support from the whole ship’s crew. In the
action which followed a Japanese transport was set on fire and abandoned,
andLi Wostayed in action against a heavy cruiser for over an hour before
being hit at point-blank range and sunk. Lieutenant Wilkinson ordered
his crew to abandon ship, but went down with theLi Wo.^2
A reserve lieutenant in command of a reserve patrol craft was as close as the
Admiralty got to a Merchant Marine Victoria Cross. None of the thousands of
merchant crewmen who braved the U-boat menace out in the cold Atlantic
apparently merited consideration. It may very well be that the sole reason
Everett was so adamant was the Navy, knowing that the warrant amendment
was to include civilian eligibility, wanted to make sure that any such claims
arising at sea were kept firmly under Royal Navy guidelines.
Part of the committee’s commission had been to update the warrant in
light of the new methods of warfare. Tanks made their first substantial
appearance in 1916, and were gradually integrated into the tactical doctrine
of the British Army. It is interesting to note that while the forces moved
toward mechanization between the World Wars and came to depend on
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