A Great War ‘Gallipoli Operations’ D.S.M. awarded to Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas Read, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (128116 P.O.1Cl. Gallipoli Opns. 1915-6) good very fine £600-800

D.S.M. London Gazette 15 May 1916.

Thomas Read was born in London on 6 October 1868. He entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class aboard the Impregnable on 26 September 1884 and was advanced to Boy 1st Class in August 1885 when on the Lion. He became an Ordinary Seaman aboard the Cruiser in July 1886, an Able Seaman in April 1888 when on Calliope and Leading Seaman in May 1898 and Petty Officer 2nd Class in May 1899 when on the Caesar. He attained the rank of Petty Officer 1st Class in March 1904 when on the Good Hope. He was pensioned ashore in October 1906 joining the Royal Fleet Reserve. Read was recalled to service in the Royal Navy in August 1914 and was posted as a Petty Officer 1st Class aboard the old battleship Glory, August 1914-December 1915. He then served on the protected cruiser Europa, December 1915-July 1917 and the old battleship Implacable, July-August 1917 before postings ashore at Victory I and Vernon. Read was awarded the D.S.M. for his service in the Gallipoli operations when aboard the Europa. He was demobilized in June 1919. Sold with copied service papers.