New Zealand Shipping Company: Captain's and senior officer's cap badge. Wire bullion & cloth cap badge. Circa 1914-1945

Material: Embroidered with gilt bullion wire on serge cloth, on fabric backing

Dimension: 86mm (W) / 58mm (H)

Weight: 17g

Obverse: In centre the crossed house flags of the NZSC, between sprays of gilt wire leaves on either side

The New Zealand Shipping Company (NZSC) was a shipping company whose ships ran passenger and cargo services between Great Britain and New Zealand between 1873 and 1973. The company was absorbed into the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) in 1973 after exactly 100 years of service.

War services: In the First World War the NZSC lost nine ships from a fleet of 32m while in the Second World War it lost 19 ships from a fleet of 36

Victoria Cross Hero: The most famous employee of the company, was an Aberdonian Scot, Archibald Bisset-Smith, who was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross in respect of his exceptional gallantry, when as Captain of the S.S. Otaki, his ship with only light armament fought a surface engagement against the German raider 'Mowe'. The citation for Bissett-Smith's Victoria Cross states:

Quote,

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 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."

Unquote

Captain Archibald Bissett-Smith, is only the second Victoria Cross to be awarded to the Merchant Navy. Portrait photographs of Bisset-Smith, show him wearing his Captain's cap with the cap badge of the New Zealand Shipping Company in the centre of his hat band

The bullion wire all intact and the badge with good bright colours

Condition: GVF

Code: 22897