HC Deb 29 June 1921 vol 143 cc2127-8
6. Captain Viscount CURZON

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether officers and men of the Royal Navy or Royal Naval Reserve who served in defensively armed merchant ships may count such service as from 2nd August, 1914 for the payment of prize money?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Amery)

Service in defensively armed merchant ships does not qualify for prize money, the award of which is limited to those who served in His Majesty's ships of war, and who could, therefore, have had an opportunity of participating in captures resulting in prize proceeds payable to the Prize Fund.

Viscount CURZON

Does not the hon. Gentleman think it very hard that these men, who were constantly under fire from hostile submarines, quite as much as the men in the Grand Fleet, should be debarred from participating?

Mr. AMERY

The point, after all, is that they were not able to capture prizes. They were armed in case they were there attacked.

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