THE MERCANILE MARINE WAR MEDAL ( 1914 - 1918 ) AWARDED TO CAPTAIN ARCHIBALD BISSET SMITH VC HAS BEEN SOLD AT AUCTION BY NOONAN'S OF LONDON.
17 June 2026


Medal entitlement of Captin ( Lieutenant RN ) Archibald Bisset Smith,
Mercantile Marine & Royal Naval Reserve

  • Victoria Cross
  • 1914-15 Star - ( location not known )
  • British War Medal ( 1914-20 ) - ( location not known )
  • Mercantile Marine War Medal ( 1914-18 )
  • Victory Medal ( 1914-19 ) - ( location not known )

  • Mercantile Marine War Medal naming
    Archibald B. Smith.

The Mercantile Marine War Medal ( 1914-1918 ) awarded to Captain ( Lieutenant RN ) Archibald Bisset Smith VC has been sold at auction by Noonan's of London. The sale estimate was between £2,000 and £2,400. The sale hammer price realised £4,600. The identity of the purchaser has not been revealed.

Archibald Smith's Victoria Cross was sold in 1951 to the New Zealand Shipping Company and was put on display in the Officers' dining room of the new SS 'Otaki' until the ship was sold in 1975. The Victoria Cross is now in the possession of the Penninsula and Oriental Steam Navigation Company ( P & O Heritage Collection ), successor to the New Zealand Shipping Company..

For the award of the Victoria Cross

[ London Gazette, 24 May 1919 ]. Mid Atlantic Ocean, 10 March 1917, Captain ( Lieutenant Royal Navy ) Archibald Bisset Smith, Mercantile Marine, SS 'Otaki'.

For most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of the S.S. "Otaki" on the 10th March 1917.

At about 2.30 pm on 10th March 1917, the S.S. "Otaki" whose armament consisted of one 4.7-in gun for defensive purposes, sighted the disguised German raider "Moewe" which was armed with four 5.9-inch, one 4.1-inch and two 22-pdr guns, and two torpedo tubes.

The "Moewe" kept the "Otaki" under observation for some time and finally called upon her to stop. This Lieutenant Smith refused to do, and a duel ensued at ranges of 1900-2000 yards, and lasted for about 20 minutes.

During this action the "Otaki" scored several hits on the "Moewe" causing considerable damage, and starting a fire, which lasted for three days. The "Otaki" sustained several casualties and received much damage herself, and was heavily on fire. Lieutenant Smith, therefore, gave orders for the boats to be lowered to allow the crew to be rescued. He remained on the ship himself and went down with her when she sank with the British colours still flying, after what was described in an enemy account as "a duel as gallant as naval history can relate".

Archibald Smith's name in inscribed on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

News

Go to VC UK flag Home Page

Iain Stewart, 17 June 2026