Orders, Decorations and Medals

Six: Chief Petty Officer T. McCappin, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (177112 T. McCappin, P.O., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (177112 T. McCappin, C.P.O., R.N.); Imperial Service Medal, G.VI.R., 2nd issue (Thomas McCappin); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (177112 Thomas McCappen, P.O. H.M.S. Minotaur); Naval Good Shooting Medal, G.V.R. (177112 T. McCappin, P.O. H.M.S. Minotaur 1913 12 Pr. Q.F.) note minor variation in surname, good very fine (6) £400-500

Thomas McCappin was born in Liverpool on 23 May 1878. He joined the Royal Navy from school, as a Boy 2nd Class, on 14 October 1893 and was advanced to Boy 1st Class in November 1894. Serving on H.M.S. Revenge, January 1896-December 1899, he was promoted to Ordinary Seaman in May 1896 and to Able Seaman in February 1898. He was on the Revenge once more, April 1901-December 1902, becoming a Leading Seaman in November 1901 and Petty Officer 2nd Class in May 1902. He was advanced to Petty Officer Class 1 in November 1907 when on Dryad. McCappin served on the armoured cruiser Minotaur from May 1912 to July 1918. In 1913 he won the Naval Good Shooting Medal for 12 pounder quick firing guns. At the beginning of the war Minotaur was on the China Station. On 6 August 1914 she captured and sank the German merchant vessel Elsbeth. Soon after she bombarded the German wireless transmission station on Yap Island. She then moved south and escorted a troop convoy from New Zealand and Australia to Aden. In December 1914 she was flagship at the Cape of Good Hope. In 1915 she returned home to join the 7th Cruiser Squadron of the Grand Fleet. McCappin was awarded the L.S. & G.C. in January 1916. He was serving aboard the vessel at the battle of Jutland, 31 May/1 June 1916 when the ship was flagship of the 2nd Cruiser Squadron. He qualified as a Gunlayer 1st Class in December 1916 and was promoted to Acting Chief Petty Officer in September 1917. McCappin was demobilized on 17 December 1919. Awarded the Imperial Service Medal in later life (London Gazette 17 May 1949) as Senior Outdoor Officer at the Ministry of Transport. With copied service paper, service notes and a group photograph which features the recipient.