Awarded to Leading Seaman Harold Arthur Tempest (1900-1981). 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.

Harold Arthur Tempest was born in Morley, Yorkshire the son of Arthur Tempest, steward of the local conservative club and publican. Harold joined the Royal Navy on 6 April 1916. From 1917-1919 he served in armoured cruiser HMS ‘Bacchante’. This vessel was flagship of the 7th cruiser squadron and was present at the Battle of Heligoland Bight but saw no action. She also took part in the Gallipoli Campaign. 'Bacchante' returned home in 1916 and after repairs following a collision, became flagship of the 9th cruiser squadron at Sierra Leone. On 2 September 1918, Tempest signed up for a further twelve years service. He joined the Royal Fleet Reserve on 2 September 1930 and was mobilized in 1938. During the World War II he served on Admiralty steel drifter ‘Landfall’ which was a minesweeper attached to the HMS ‘Stag’ - a base in Egypt. He left the Royal Navy at the end of the war and died in 1981 in Scarborough.