Awarded to Harry Sydney McGill, Steward MN. Obverse: Head of King George VI. Legend: 'GEORGIVS VI D : G : BR : OMN : REX : F:D : IND : IMP'. Reverse: An oak tree and Royal crown supported by lions rampant, their heads turned away. Inscription: '1939', '1945'. Exergue: 'THE DEFENCE MEDAL' Fitted with a bar and orange ribbon with pale green edges divided by a narrow black stripe. In original card box with certificate from the Home Secretary.

Harry Sydney McGill (1901-1985) was born in West Ham, London in 1901, the son of Joseph R. McGill - mast and block maker. Harry served in the merchant service at the end of World War I, employed as cook and steward on the 'Ella'. She was built on the Clyde in 1881 for the London and South-Western Railway Co. to carry passengers and cargo between Southampton and the Channel Islands. In 1913, she was sold to the Shipping Federation. McGill also worked on 'Purfleet Belle' - built in Belfast in 1888 as 'Lady Martin' for the British and Irish Steam Packet Company. They ran a service of fast and comfortable steamers between London and Dublin. The ship was sold to Turkish owners but seized at Glasgow, at the start of the war before her delivery. She was returned to the British and Irish Steam Packet Co. before being sold to Cunningham, Shaw and Co. and renamed 'Purfleet Belle'.

Harry McGill married Irene Fairweather in 1925 at Romford, Essex. By 1939, the couple were living in Manchester and Harry McGill was working as a furniture dealer. He died there in 1985.