In 1971, the British Government announced that the Albert Medal would be discontinued and living recipients would henceforth be regarded as holders of the George Cross.
He was the sixth of ten children to Christopher Michael Bagot, a sheep farmer and station owner, and Eleanor Mary (née Hawker).
[4] Commissioned as a temporary sub-lieutenant on 10 September,[10] he embarked for the United Kingdom that month and, on arrival, was appointed to the Motor Launch Division of the Dover Patrol.
[1][2][11] He was attached as an additional officer to HMS Attentive from April 1917 for service aboard ML 283,[2] and promoted temporary lieutenant on 10 September 1917.
As others proceeded to flee the scene,[13] Bagot, along with Lieutenant Robin Hoare, realised the fire was threatening the aft petrol tanks and the depth charges located on board the launch.
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Albert Medal for Gallantry in Saving Life at Sea to Lieutenant-Commander Keith Robin Hoare, D.S.O., D.S.C., R.N.V.R., and Lieutenant Arthur Gerald Bagot, D.S.C., R.N.V.R.
It was then realised by the crews of adjacent vessels that the aft petrol tanks and the depth charge were being attacked by the fire, and might explode at any moment.
At the moment when others were running away, Lieutenant Hoare and Sub-Lieutenant Bagot jumped into their dinghy, rowed to the wreck, got on board, and removed the depth charge, thereby preventing an explosion which might have caused serious loss of life amongst the crowd of English and French sailors on the quay.Appointed second-in-command of Motor Launch 283, Bagot was in action at the First Ostend Raid on 23 April 1918.
[4] In 1971, owing to the decline in status and significance of the Albert Medal, the British Government announced that the decoration would be abolished and living recipients would henceforth be regarded as holders of the George Cross.
[20] All six Australian Albert Medal recipients living at the time opted to accept the offer,[Note 1] and were invited to attend an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace to receive their new insignia.