Gazette Information: VICTORIA CROSS,: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issues/31354/supplement/6446. Temporary Lieutenant Archibald Bisset Smith, Royal Naval Reserve. On 10th March 1917 in the Atlantic, the SS Otaki, whose armament consisted of one 4.7-inch gun, commanded by Lieutenant Smith, sighted a German raider who was armed with four 5.9-inch, one 4.1-inch and two 22-pounder guns. The raider called on Otaki to stop, but on Lieutenant Smith refusing to do so, a duel ensued, during which Otaki secured a number of hits and caused considerable damage, but she herself sustained much damage and was on fire. Lieutenant Smith therefore ordered his crew to abandon ship, but he himself stayed on board and went down with his ship.
Fold3_Team · 31 Oct 2023
Gazette Information: VICTORIA CROSS,: https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issues/31354/supplement/6446. Temporary Lieutenant Archibald Bisset Smith, Royal Naval Reserve. On 10th March 1917 in the Atlantic, the SS Otaki, whose armament consisted of one 4.7-inch gun, commanded by Lieutenant Smith, sighted a German raider who was armed with four 5.9-inch, one 4.1-inch and two 22-pounder guns. The raider called on Otaki to stop, but on Lieutenant Smith refusing to do so, a duel ensued, during which Otaki secured a number of hits and caused considerable damage, but she herself sustained much damage and was on fire. Lieutenant Smith therefore ordered his crew to abandon ship, but he himself stayed on board and went down with his ship.