§ Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether, in reference to the issue of the torpedo badge for the 674 merchant service, he will now consider toe desirability of instituting some special form of recognition in the case of officers and crews of merchant ships who, through skilful seamanship and courage, have avoided torpedoing or sinking through gunfire, or other enemy action, and who have thus been instrumental in saving their ships; (2) whether he is now prepared to authorise the wearing of war chevrons by the officers and men of the merchant service as in the case of the officers and men of the naval and military forces; (3) whether officers of the merchant service who have been granted commissions in the Naval Reserve forces and Army since the outbreak of War will now be permitted to wear on their uniforms chevrons for the time they served as officers in the merchant service from the outbreak of war in addition to those chevrons which they are entitled to wear from the time that they received their commissions?
Sir A. STANLEYI entirely sympathise with the object which the hon. Member has in view, namely, the recognition of the services performed by the officers and men of the mercantile marine whether they have been torpedoed or not; but I am very doubtful as to the wisdom of multiplying special badges and distinctions, and, as at present advised, I do not propose to add to their number.
§ Mr. PETOHas the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the fact that the torpedo badge is in red worsted, which is quite unsuitable to be worn on any uniform, and that it is in exactly the same form for men and stokers as for officers? Does he not consider that contrary to the interests of discipline on board ship?
Sir A. STANLEYI am very much obliged to the hon. Gentleman for drawing attention to that. I thought the design and general character of the badge had been agreed to by the various interests concerned, but I shall be very glad to take it into consideration.