Climebear,
I think I’m correct; that there was debate within the committee that decides such things, whether John Cruickshank should be awarded the VC; as some in the corridors of power considered he was partly motivated by self-preservation.
I wonder if anyone has a reference for this, I have read quite a lot of the books on the ‘Kipper Fleet’ at war and can’t find the quote at it at the moment. I too have met the man, a day will always remember.