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four 5.9 in., one 4.1 in. and two 22 pdr. guns, and two torpedo tubes. The "Möwe" 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 1,900–2,000 yards and lasted for about 20 minutes. During this action the "Otaki" scored several hits on the "Möwe", causing considerable damage, and starting a fire which lasted for three days. She 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."
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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 p.m. 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 "Möwe", which was armed with
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In 1937 his family presented the Otaki Shield to Robert Gordon's
College, to be an annual award to the senior boy who is judged "pre-eminent in character, in leadership and in athletics". The shield is accompanied by the prize of six weeks in New Zealand as Otaki Scholar, visiting various schools as
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452:. After Edith's death in 1951, Alfred sold the VC and Archibald's other medals (the British War Medal, Victory Medal, and Mercantile Marine Medal) to the New Zealand Shipping Company for
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Smith was born at Cosie Brae in Cults on 19 December 1878, one of five children of
William Smith, an accountant and wholesale merchant, and Annie Smith (née Nicol), both originally from
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sustained much damage and was on fire. Captain Smith therefore ordered his crew to abandon ship, but he himself stayed aboard and went down with his ship.
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716:(in German). Vol. 3: U-Boote, Hilfskreuzer, Minenschiffe, Netzleger, Sperrbrecher. Koblenz: Bernard & Graefe Verlag. p. 154.
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As a
Merchant officer, Smith could not receive the VC at that time. In 1919 he was posthumously commissioned as a temporary
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s resistance as "a duel as gallant as naval history can relate". In May 1919 Smith was posthumously awarded the
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before joining the
Merchant Navy in 1895. He gained his Master's ticket in 1903 while serving with the
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Shortly before World War I, Smith married Edith Clulee (née Powell), whom he had met while working in
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Clipper Ship to Motor Liner; the story of the New
Zealand Shipping Company 1873–1939
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As a
British Merchant seafarer with no known grave, Smith is commemorated on the
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In
November 1917 Smith was awarded a posthumous commendation. After the
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to stop but
Captain Smith refused. A duel ensued, during which
618:(Supplement). No. 30386. 17 November 1917. p. 11924.
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Monuments to
Courage: Victoria Cross Headstones and Memorials
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to have been awarded the VC for his First World War service.
835:"Holders of the Victoria Cross Buried at Sea or Lost at Sea"
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more details of the battle reached the UK authorities.
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British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross
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637:. No. 13449. 27 May 1919. p. 1768.
448:presented Smith's VC to Edith and Alfred at
246:Smith received this award for his action as
904:Royal Navy recipients of the Victoria Cross
630:"Lieutenant Archibald Bisset Smith, R.N.R."
296:and two 500 mm torpedo launches guns.
234:Smith is one of only two members of the UK
919:People educated at Robert Gordon's College
772:VCs of the First World War – The Naval VCs
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215:(19 December 1878 – 10 March 1917) was a
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16:Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross
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714:Die deutschen Kriegsschiffe 1815–1945
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242:World War I action and Victoria Cross
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894:Captains who went down with the ship
361:. William Smith was a descendant of
307:secured a number of hits and caused
687:The Register of the Victoria Cross
610:"Honours to the Mercantile Marine"
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653:"Scottish Victoria Cross awards"
599:website. Retrieved 28 July 2018.
535:Hebditch, John (11 March 2017).
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899:Civilians killed in World War I
349:Heritage Collection in London.
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934:Royal Naval Reserve personnel
417:armistice of 11 November 1918
384:, and served on the steamers
803:New Zealand Shipping Company
382:New Zealand Shipping Company
288:, which was armed with four
252:New Zealand Shipping Company
753:Scotland's Forgotten Valour
684:Buzzell, Nora, ed. (1997).
428:Nikolaus zu Dohna-Schlodien
376:Archibald was a student at
345:His VC is preserved at the
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776:VCs of the First World War
770:Snelling, Stephen (2002).
37:portrait published in the
797:Waters, Sydney D (1939).
651:McEwen, Alistair (2014).
586:Archibald Bisset Smith VC
311:considerable damage, but
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939:Scottish naval personnel
851:"Archibald Bisset Smith"
522:"Archibald Bisset Smith"
597:Robert Gordon's College
378:Robert Gordon's College
182:Action of 10 March 1917
837:. victoriacross.org.uk
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210:Archibald Bisset Smith
25:Archibald Bisset Smith
751:Ross, Graham (1995).
634:The Edinburgh Gazette
542:The Press and Journal
278:, sighted the German
805:Ltd. pp. 74–78.
591:28 July 2018 at the
60:Cults, Aberdeenshire
39:Auckland Weekly News
340:Tower Hill Memorial
333:Royal Naval Reserve
318:His citation reads:
299:The raider ordered
155:Royal Naval Reserve
113:Royal Naval Reserve
929:People lost at sea
615:The London Gazette
507:The London Gazette
371:Battle of Culloden
909:People from Cults
789:978-0-7524-8733-5
780:The History Press
755:. MacLean Press.
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450:Buckingham Palace
274:, armed with one
219:recipient of the
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858:. Retrieved
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71:(1917-03-10)
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879:1878 births
502:"No. 31354"
489:Gröner 1985
477:Waters 1939
426:s captain,
177:World War I
873:Categories
778:. Stroud:
552:14 January
547:DC Thomson
464:References
329:lieutenant
255:cargo ship
143:Lieutenant
82:Allegiance
53:1878-12-19
283:SMS
860:9 August
841:10 March
744:59437300
734:(1999).
712:(1985).
589:Archived
446:George V
398:Turakina
367:Jacobite
231:forces.
217:Scottish
161:Commands
100:Service/
665:28 July
524:. CWGC.
394:Waimate
386:Waikato
347:P&O
331:in the
266:in the
250:of the
225:British
188:†
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411:Legacy
390:Rakaia
359:Rhynie
294:105 mm
292:, one
290:150 mm
248:Master
198:Awards
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137:Master
102:branch
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656:(PDF)
456:125.
444:King
435:'
432:Otaki
424:'
313:Otaki
305:Otaki
301:Otaki
272:Otaki
262:. On
259:Otaki
166:Otaki
862:2010
843:2017
784:ISBN
757:ISBN
740:OCLC
718:ISBN
696:ISBN
667:2018
554:2020
421:Möwe
396:and
365:, a
309:Möwe
285:Möwe
227:and
151:Unit
130:Rank
66:Died
47:Born
595:,"
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213:VC
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454:£
55:)
51:(
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