§ 1. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is proposed to grant the Victory Medal to officers and men of the Mercantile Marine?
§ Sir A. GEDDESOfficers and men of the Mercantile Marine are eligible to receive the Mercantile Marine War Medal in special recognition of the peculiarly valuable services they rendered to the national and Allied cause. The grant of this medal will be strictly confined to merchant officers and seamen, and will not be extended to any other class of persons.
33 This decision is based on a desire specially to honour the British Mercantile Marine by the grant to them of a medal officially accorded precedence over the Victory Medal. They will, of course, receive the British War Medal.
§ Captain W. BENNCan the right hon. Gentleman make a statement about the 1914–15 Star for the Mercantile Marine?
§ Sir A. GEDDESThat does not arise. The Mercantile Marine War Medal is a separate thing. The War Medal and 1914–15 Star are controlled by the War Office.