Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War O.B.E. group of five awarded to Lieutenant-Commander J. H. Thom, Royal Navy

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, South Africa 1902, these loose on riband (Lieut. J. H. Thom, R.N. H.M.S. Pearl.), officially re-impressed naming; 1914-15 Star (Lt. Commr. J. H. Thom, R.N.), officially re-impressed naming; British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Commr. J. H. Thom. R.N.), generally good very fine (5) £240-£280

O.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1919.

James Henry Thom was born on 3 April 1880 and entered naval service in January 1894 in training at Britannia. Granted his commission as a Sub-Lieutenant on 13 November 1899, he was promoted Lieutenant in 1901, serving as such on Pearl, in which he remained from December 1901 to May 1903, during operations in South Africa. On the outbreak of war in 1914, he was serving in Agamemnon, remaining in her until he was drafted to Blenheim in March 1916, remaining until March 1919. He married Sister Myra Lillian Smith of the 3rd Australian General Hospital in 1919. Thom was placed on the retired list, at his own request, with the seniority of Commander on 25 July 1924.