Awarded to Telegraphist Lieutenant-Commander Harry Simpson (1877-1951). Obverse Bust of King Edward VII in military uniform, cloak, order and medals (left) Legend: 'EDWARDVS VII REX IMPERATOR'. Reverse: Within a knotted rope starboard broadside view of a ship of the line at anchor. Legend: 'FOR LONG SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT'. Inscription on edge: '167412 HARRY SIMPSON C.P.O. (TEL) H.M.S.KING EDWARD VII'. Suspended from a clasp and dark blue ribbon edged with white. Mounted on a bar with four others.
Harry Simpson was born in Southsea, Portsmouth. He entered the Royal Navy as a boy 2nd class on the 8 June 1892. He served as a signalman in HMS 'Katoomba' stationed in Australian waters from 10 May 1894 to 20 April 1897. In HMS 'St George' and HMS 'Ophir', Simpson participated in the Imperial tour of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York during 1901 - he was now a Yeoman of Signals. In HMS 'Russell' 1903-4, he served in the Mediterranean fleet and continued there in HMS 'Queen' and HMS 'Suffolk' until 1906. In 1907, he was promoted to Chief Petty Officer telegraphist. and on 5 May 1910 to Warrant Telegraphist. He spent most of World War I in HMS 'Iron Duke' - the flagship of Jellicoe during the battle of Jutland in 1916. Simpson had been promoted to Lieutenant on 29 February earlier that year. He was further promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 29 February 1924 and received the MBE on 3 June 1931. He retired on 18 January 1932. He had married Celia Jane Rayner in Portsmouth in 1901 and the couple had two sons.