Orders, Decorations and Medals

Four: Victualler Chief Petty Officer R. E. Thomson, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (344215 S.S., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (344215 V.C.P.O., R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (344215 Vict. C.P.O., H.M.S. Royalist) slight contact marks, very fine and better (4) £90-120

Robert Edwin Thomson was born in Co. Donegal on 17 July 1886. He entered the Royal Navy as a Ship’s Steward Boy on 8 May 1901. He was promoted to Ships Stewards Assistant in July 1906 when on Challenger and Ships Steward 2nd Class in March 1912 when on Hecla. Early in the war he served on the armoured cruiser Minotaur, May 1912-March 1915 and was promoted to Ship’s Steward in January 1915. He then served on the light cruiser Royalist, August 1915-December 1919. As such he served at the battle of Jutland, the ship forming part of the 4th Light Cruiser Squadron. In February 1918 he was promoted to Victualler Chief Petty Officer and in July the same year was awarded the long service medal. Posted to Stokes Bay, Canada, August 1920-January 1923, he was rated as Supply C.P.O. in November 1922. Pensioned ashore on 16 July 1926. Briefly mobilised, September-October 1938. With copied service papers.