HC Deb 23 May 1940 vol 361 cc327-8W
Mr. Leslie Boyce

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty which of the awards for gallantry ordinarily bestowed on officers and ratings of the Royal Navy are open to similar ranks in the Merchant Navy; and whether he will consider instituting special decorations to be granted for war service to merchant seamen?

Sir V. Warrender

Of the awards available to the Royal Navy, officers and men of the Merchant Navy may receive the following:

Victoria Cross.

Empire Gallantry Medal.

Appropriate classes of the Order of the British Empire, and the Medal of the Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service.

The Empire Gallantry Medal and British Empire awards for the Merchant Navy are, of course, in the Civil Division. I have already discussed with the Minister of Shipping the institution of a special decoration for war service in the Merchant Navy, and this matter will be further considered in due course.