Medal & Mortality index
The Military Cross was instituted as a Decoration on December 28th, 1914, to
reward Distinguished Services rendered by Officers of certain ranks in the army
in time of war. Bars may be added for additional acts of gallantry. Since August
1st, 1918, it has, like the D.S.O., been awarded for "services in action" only.
There are many mentions of A R Moore in the 4th battalion history:
12th March 1915:
Meanwhile the 4th Londons proceeded with the relief of the 41st Dogras, and
although they occupied the line only for a few hours, perhaps we may be pardoned
for a rather more detailed record of the night's work than the importance of the
operation warrants in view of the fact that this was the first tour of duty done
by the Battalion in trenches. The sector to be occupied lay at an interval of
about 300 yards from the right limit of the Neuve Chapelle attack as already
described, and consisted of a frontage of some 400 yards, in front of the Rue du
Bois. The line in this part did not consist of a continuous line of trenches. In
the first place, the ground here, as for miles in each direction, was too
water-logged to admit of a trench being dug, and the defences, therefore,
consisted of a breastwork built up above ground level, and in most parts of this
sector the breastwork did not exceed three feet in height and was entirely
without parados. As a result, moreover, of the recent fighting the defensive
line consisted rather of a series of short breastworks with gaps between them
which could only be crossed under cover of darkness. Communication trenches to
the rear were non-existent and the breast-work had to be approached from the Rue
du Bois, to which it ran parallel at a distance of about fifty yards, "
overland." It may be of interest to those who served in this area with the
regiment in the winter of 1916/17 to state that this feeble breastwork was
almost in the position of the support line subsequently known as Guards' Trench.
This position perhaps was not an ideal one for the first introduction of a raw
Battalion to trench warfare, and the situation was not improved by the
exhaustion of the men or the fact that the Rue du Bois was subject to a great
deal of heavy shelling which had not died down since the German counter-attacks
of the day, but which continued through the night. The Battalion moved forward
by platoons past Windy Corner, where it came under a heavy burst of shrapnel,
and Edward Road, skirting behind the ruined factory at the corner of the Rue du
Bois, and led by Indian guides, whose vague acquaintance with the language of
London did not assist matters to any appreciable extent. Be it remembered also
that no maps had been issued and no reconnaissance of the line had been possible
to any company officer. However, the Battalion succeeded in occupying its
breast-work and remained there during the night, somewhat isolated as such with
the units on its flanks was difficult to maintain owing to the breaks in the
line, and all ranks acquitted themselves in an exemplary manner. The shrapnel
and machine-gun fire maintained by the Germans during the night cost a few
casualties, amounting to 14 N.C.O.'s and men wounded. In addition to these was
2/Lieut. A. R. Moore, who was hit in the leg on the way up to the line. This
officer, however, stuck to his duty and remained with his platoon until after
relief of the Battalion the next morning. He was awarded the Military Cross for
his gallant conduct.
Military Cross :
2/Lieutenant A. R. Moore ; London Gazette 23.6.15
28th May 1916:
The front line of W sector was taken up by A Company (A. R. Moore) on the right
with B Company (S. Elliott) on the left, supports to both front line companies
being found by D Company (Giles), while C Company (Long) was in reserve at
Hebuterne. Battalion Headquarters occupied dugouts beneath a roller flour mill
in Hebuterne. The move forward from Bayencourt for this relief being made in
daylight was carried out across country along tracks, platoons moving separately
at 300 yards distance.
July 1916:
The above messages probably convey a substantially correct idea of what
occurred, but owing to the failure of all means of communication on account of
the intensity of the German shell fire, the movements of A and C Companies will
probably never be known in detail. At 11.50 a.m. an untimed message was received
from Capt. A. R. Moore (A Company) reporting that he was still in W 49, his
battle position, though at 9.5 a.m., as we have seen, he was reported to have
crossed to the German line ; and probably this latter report is correct. The
situation, however, evidently required clearing up, and a patrol consisting of
L.-Corpl. Hyde and Pte. Lear despatched from Battalion Headquarters succeeded in
returning with the information that A Company had gone forward. L.-Corpl. Hyde
was awarded the Military Medal (London Gazette 21.12.16 ) for his good work, and
subsequently recommended for a commission by Lieut. -Col. Wheatley ; he was
unfortunately killed in action later in the Somme Battle whilst completing his
training with C Company.
At 1 p.m. a message was received from Stanham (in reserve) that his Company had
suffered about fifty per cent, casualties and that his position had become
untenable. He was ordered to maintain his position.
Of A Company, gallantly led to the second German line by Capt. A. R. Moore,
M.C., but 18 returned. Moore himself and one of his subalterns, F. C. Fanhangel,
were killed, the other subaltern, A. G. Blunn, being captured with 7 others. The
rest of the company were killed. Moore's end, like his life, was one of
courageous devotion, and has been simply told by one of his own sergeants :
" Capt. Moore was wounded in the wrist about thirty minutes before we went over.
Nevertheless he led the company, revolver in hand, and on the sunken road at the
rear of Nameless Farm I saw blood flowing from his back. He still pushed on, and
then I was shot through the leg and took shelter in a shell hole. The last I saw
of Capt. Moore he was still going ahead. . . ."
MOORE, Captain Arthur Robert, M.C. 1st/4th Bn. London Regiment (Royal
Fusiliers). Died 1st July 1916. Aged 32. Son of Sir John Moore, M.D.,
F.R.C.P.I., D.L., Physician to H.M. The King in Ireland, and Lady Moore, of 40,
Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin. M.A., University of Dublin; Barrister-at-Law;
Gazetted Aug., 1914.