Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Ordinary Seaman T. W. Middleton, Royal Navy, who was killed in action on 23 September 1916 off Dunkirk, while serving aboard the monitor H.M.S. Marshal Soult

1914-15 Star (J.42510, W. Middleton, Ord., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J.42510 W. Middleton. Ord. R.N.); Memorial Plaque (Thomas William Middleton) good very fine (4) £140-£180

Thomas William Middleton was born in 1888 in Wicklow, Ireland. He served in merchant vessels prior to joining the Royal Navy as William Middleton on 24 July 1915. He remained in barracks at Chatham (H.M.S. Pembroke I) until 8 October 1915, at which time he was transferred to the Ney-class monitor, H.M.S. Marshal Soult.

A ship of the Royal Navy’s Dover Patrol from November 1915, Marshal Soult was used mainly for the bombardment of land targets and port installations in Flanders, particularly Zeebrugge and Ostend. Ordinary Seaman Middleton was killed in action during a German aerial bombing attack off Dunkirk on 24 September 1916. He is buried in Dunkirk Town Cemetery, France.