Awarded to Surgeon Commander Francis Bolster CMG BA MD RN. Oakleaf for mention in dispatches missing. Obverse: Winged Victory standing (front), a palm branch in her right hand, her left arm outstretched. Reverse: Within a laurel garland, Inscription: 'THE GREAT WAR FOR CIVILIZATION 1914-1919'. Inscribed on edge: 'SURG.CMMR.F BOLSTER. R.N.' Fitted with a watered silk ribbon of rainbow hues. Mounted on a bar with three others.

Francis Bolster (1874-1941) was educated at Midleton College, Cork. He obtained his MD at Dublin in 1905 and joined the Royal Navy with the rank of surgeon in 1907. During the Boxer Rebellion, he served in HMS 'Rosario' and was awarded the China War Medal. He was promoted to Fleet Surgeon 29 November 1911. At the start of World War I, he was employed in the Naval Hospital in Chatham and from August 1914 ran the hospital ship HMS 'China'. From July 1915, he served in HMS 'Warrior'. During the battle of Jutland, the ship came under heavy fire and there were 100 casualties amongst the crew, 68 of whom died. 'Warrior' was taken in tow by HMS 'Engadine' which took off the 743 survivors before the damaged vessel was abandoned and later sank. Bolster later served in 'Leviathan' flagship on the North America and West Indies Station and in August 1918 was temporarily transferred to the Army for duty in France. Between the wars, Francis Bolster was a medical practitioner in Biggleswade, Bedfordshire. He married Violet Kathleen Adams and the couple had two children.