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Auction: 22003 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 264

Three: Able Seaman A. G. Thompson, Royal Navy, who served aboard H.M.S. Nicator during the Battle of Jutland, when the crew were forced to cut free a misfired torpedo under heavy fire in the same action which won Commander Edward Bingham the Victoria Cross

1914-15 Star (232885, A. G. Thompson, A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (232885 A. G. Thompson. A.B. R.N.), edge bruise, pitting, overall very fine (3)

Arthur George Thompson was born at Northampton on 12 February 1888 and enlisted at Pembroke I as a Boy Class I on 14 November 1904. Growing to maturity with H.M.S. Glory Thompson saw service aboard a number of warships including Mars, Furious and Royal Arthur.

At the outbreak of the Great War Thompson was stationed with H.M.S. Sandfly with the 1st Destroyer Flotilla. This formation was involved in the First Battle of Heligoland Bight and Dogger Bank. However just prior to the Battle Jutland he was posted to Nicator on 7 May 1916.

This destroyer was stationed with the 13th Destroyer Flotilla part of Beatty's battlecruiser fleet. Ordered into the attack the flotilla met a force of German destroyers, led by a light cruiser but managed to drive them off. Nestor and Nicator launched torpedoes at the German battlecruisers however Nicator's split in the tube. The warhead spat out and dropped against the side of the ship, under heavy fire the crew laboured to cut it away. Another run had to be aborted when the Nestor was struck in the boiler and Nicator was forced to avoid it. For his bravery and leadership in leading the two destroyers in, Nestor's commander Edward Bingham was awarded the Victoria Cross.

After the battle Thompson remained with Nicator, which was conducting anti-submarine patrols in the North Sea. With the end of the war he was demobilised on 2 March 1919; sold together with copied service papers.

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Sold for
£90

Starting price
£90