Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Gallipoli Operations’ D.S.M. awarded to Petty Officer 1st Class T. Read, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (128116. T. Read, P.O. 1Cl. Gallipoli Opns. 1915-6.) one letter of surname double-struck, minor edge bruise, good very fine £500-£700

D.S.M. London Gazette 15 May 1916:
‘In recognition of services rendered between the time of landing in the Gallipoli Peninsula in April 1915, and the evacuation in December 1915 to January 1916.’

Thomas Read was born in London on 6 October 1868 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class, with number 128816, on 26 September 1884. Advanced Petty Officer 1st Class on 1 March 1904, he was shore pensioned on 19 October 1906, and joined the Royal Fleet Reserve on 22 October of that year. Recalled following the outbreak of the Great War, he served in H.M.S. Glory from August 1914 to 4 December 1914, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his services at Gallipoli whilst serving with the Eastern Mediterranean Squadron. He was finally shore demobilised on 31 June 1919.