Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War D.S.M. group of six awarded to Blacksmith T. Hill, Royal Navy, who was decorated for services in the Aegean

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (342135. T. Hill, Blksh. “Agamemnon” 1918), partially officially re-impressed; 1914-15 Star (342135, T. Hill, Blk., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (342135 T. Hill. Blk. R.N.); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (342135 Thomas Hill, Blackth. H.M.S. Agamemnon:); Special Constabulary Long Service Medal, G.V.R., 2nd issue (Thomas Hill), generally very fine (6) £700-£900

D.S.M. London Gazette 10 December 1918:
‘For services on the Mediterranean Station between 1 January and 30 June 1918: I. Aegean’

Thomas Hill was born in Okehampton, Devon, on 4 October 1876, entering naval service on 3 May 1898 as a Blacksmith’s Mate, this being his occupation in civil life, and was quickly advanced Blacksmith on 28 July 1901. He joined H.M.S. Agamemnon on 12 January 1911, was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct medal on 17 June 1913, and remained in her until 20 March 1919, having been promoted to Chief Blacksmith on 16 October 1918. He was shore pensioned on 13 July 1920.

Agamemnon was assigned to the Channel Fleet when the Great War began in 1914, before being transferred to the Mediterranean Sea with H.M.S. Lord Nelson in early 1915 to participate in the Dardanelles Campaign. She made a number of bombardments against Turkish fortifications and in support of British troops. Agamemnon remained in the Mediterranean after the conclusion of that campaign to prevent the German battlecruiser S.M.S. Goeben and light cruiser Breslau from breaking out into the Mediterranean. Agamemnon shot down the German Zeppelin LZ-55 (LZ-85) during a bombing mission over Salonica in 1916. On 30 October 1918, the Ottoman Empire signed the Armistice of Mudros on board the ship while she was anchored at Lemnos in the northern Aegean Sea. She was converted to a radio-controlled target ship following her return to the United Kingdom in March 1919, when Hill left her.