§ 47. Mr. Keelingasked the Prime Minister which of the four Services, Navy, Army, Air Force and Mercantile Marine, is estimated to have had the largest war casualty rate; and whether he will consider advising His Majesty that a Merchant Service cross and medal be created or that officers and men of the Merchant Service be made eligible for naval decorations and medals?
§ Mr. AttleeArithmetical comparison of casualty rates must be misleading, but His Majesty's Government are fully mindful of the heavy loss of life incurred by the Merchant Navy, which is, in fact, comparable to that in the fighting Services. It would not be in the interests of the men of the Merchant Navy themselves, in the event of capture, to make them eligible for military awards when serving in a purely civilian capacity. They are already eligible for the gram of the George Cross and George Medal and of civil decorations for gallantry and for services arising out of enemy action, and for military awards when they are serving under the orders of the Royal Navy, as in the operations of Dunkirk, for which a number of military awards was made to the Service.
§ Mr. KeelingIs my right hon. Friend aware of the extremely gallant actions which the Merchant Service have performed when not under naval orders? Will he consider instituting a further non-military decoration for such actions?
§ Mr. AttleeThere have been 488 civil awards made to the Merchant Navy 1562 during the present war. I will bring the hon. Member's suggestion to the notice of the Prime Minister.