Chairing the honours and awards committee mattered for morale and required access to secret operational reports. Arbuthnot sometimes had to support awards with wording that did not disclose the classified reasons behind them. The appointment may also have kept him within reach as an experienced replacement, perhaps for Somerville. Because the job kept Arbuthnot informed without committing him to another operation, he could have moved into an emergency command more readily.
Notable Point · 28:42-31:18
An honours post could preserve a command reserve
The honours and awards committee kept Geoffrey Arbuthnot informed and may have left him available for a more urgent command.