Five: Petty Officer T. Dempster, Royal Navy

1914-15 Star (228929 L.S., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (228929 P.O., R.N.); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Somaliland 1920 (228929 P.O., H.M.S. Odin); Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st issue (228929 Thomas Dempster, P.O., H.M.S. Victory) mounted for wear (lacking pin), generally very fine or better (5) £260-300

Thomas Dempster was born in Comber, Co. Down on 15 May 1886. He enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class on 23 November 1903 and was advanced to Boy 1st Class in February 1904. He was promoted to Ordinary Seaman in May 1904 when on the old ironclad battleship Hercules; and to Able Seaman in February 1906 when on Crescent. Dempster served throughout the war on the Colossus class battleship Hercules, February 1914-March 1919, being promoted to Leading Seaman in August 1915 and to Petty Officer in September 1917. He was serving aboard the ship at the battle of Jutland, 31 May 1916. Awarded the L.S. & G.C. in 1919. After the war he served on the sloop Odin, July 1919-September 1920, and served in operations on and off the coast of Somaliland. Dempster was pensioned ashore and joined the R.F.R. in May 1926. With copied service paper and other research.