Archibald Bisset Smith

Dec 19, 1878

Archibald Bisset Smith is born at Cosie Brae in Cults as one of five children of an accountant

Location: Britain

1895

Archibald Smith joins the Merchant Navy

Location: Britain

1903

Archibald Smith gains his master's certificate while serving with the New Zealand Shipping Company

Location: Britain

Mar 10, 1917

SMS Möwe attacks the armed merchant ship Otaki off the Azores. SMS Möwe is damaged but Otaki is sunk.

The Captain of the Otaki, Archibald Bisset Smith, went down with his ship with the British colours still flying. After the war he was posthumously commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Reserve so that he could be awarded with the Victoria Cross, which he would not be entitled to as a civilian.

Location: Atlantic