Reverend Edgar Noel Moore

[Pierre]

Hello All,

Just for searchers, Reverend Edgar Noel Moore MC

was attached 20th Bn KLR

died 05/01/1918

and is buried in Railway Dugouts.

It is rare to have that mention of attachment on a Reverend's grave.

Pierre

[IPT]

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 9 JANUARY, 1918

Rev. Edgar Noel Moore, A. Chapl. Dept.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to

duty. While the battalion to which he was

attached was forming up in the assembly

position, they were heavily shelled, but with

splendid disregard of danger he walked along

the top tending the wounded and consoling

the dying. Throughout four days of heavy

fighting, he displayed a magnificent example

of courage to all ranks whilst burying the

dead and assisting to carry stretchers, under

heavy shell fire.

He had obtained a degree from Exeter College, Oxford in 1911 and was ordained in 1913. He originally worked in Bethnal Green, and then joined the YMCA as a Reverend, and was sent to Ypres. A Chaplain - Forces (4th class), he was attached to the 20th (Service) Battalion (4th City) King's Liverpool Regiment. He won the MC on 31 July 1917 tending to the wounded, and he was killed in action on 5 January 1918, aged 29. His unit suffered a direct hit though he survived and went to the aid of his wounded comrades, and was then killed. He is buried at Railway Dugouts Cemetery, Zillebeke, Ypres, and is commemorated on the Bethnal Green War Memorial

http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:UTYMNI-JHt8J:militaryhistorysociety.com/0908MeetingNotes.doc+%22He+is+buried+at+Railway+Dugouts+Cemetery,+Zillebeke,+Ypres%22&hl=en&gl=uk&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESgTvF15tpAxA_pYtdVu9KdTuKDFQtW_KZWdsr54K14TRkt-PuG7oUO5wRltv6Wp4WYuUXFyUEbDiJNLuZ0D8G4wOf0Sm1MG89WLCFgib0v1-5hN6jz4dQXe6oPwIzt6sBLB0UFT&sig=AHIEtbSq9EGI6kUQZCYh6A_CeOKOmvAGBw

[Malcolm]

From " GREATER LOVE " by Revd David Youngson ISBN 1 872239 53 6

a book of all Chaplains killed in WW1.

The Revd Edgar Noel Moore MC

Temporary Chaplain 4th Class

Army Chaplains' Department

The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Battalion

The son of Arthur Louis and Augusta Cecelia Moore of St John's Wood,

London, he studied at Exeter College, Oxford where he obtained a

B.A. (2nd Cl Med Hist) in 1911. He was made a Deacon in 1913 and

Ordained Priest by the Lord Bishop of London in 1914. He served his

Title as Curate of St Simeon Zelotes , Bethnal Green, in the Diocese of

London from 1913 and became a Temporary Chaplain to the Forces

in 1916. He was awarded the Military Cross - London Gazette 9th

January 1918 page 631 " While the Battalion to which he was attached

was forming up in the assembly position, they were heavily shelled,

but with splendid disregard of danger he walked along the top tending

the wounded and consoling the dying. Throughout four days of heavy

fighting, he displayed a magnificent example of courage to all ranks

whilst burying the dead and assisting to carry stretchers, under heavy

shell fire" He was killed in Belgium, on the 5th January 1918 aged

29. He is buried at Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, Grave Reference:

VII V5 and remembered on the Aldershott Memorial.

Aye

Malcolm

[Audax]

I recall seeing a memorial chair to Rev E N Moore in St George's Memorial Church in IEPER

[TullochArd]

Edgar Moore's death - Brigadier F.C. Stanley

The IWGC Headstone 20th Battalion reference remains a mystery as it would appear that Edgar Moore was not serving in 20th Battalion/89th Brigade at the time of his death.  Brigadier F.C. Stanley (Commander 89th Brigade) writes (History of the 89th Brigade, Chap XXVII, Page 223-224): “The Brigade was holding Torr-Tops, and the right battalion lived in an extensive system of mined galleries, which became inevitably crowded with troops and stores. This place was to be the subject, some months later, of a terrible tragedy. For some unknown reason the whole place caught fire, and in a few minutes was completely burnt out. Several officers of the 2nd Battalion Wiltshire Regiment were burnt to death, and the Rev. C. Moore, C.F., who used to be with the 20th Battalion K.L.R., unfortunately met his death there. Poor fellow! from all accounts he could have got out perfectly well, but he went back to see if he could do anything to help the others, and was heard of no more.” Brigadier Stanley is understandably recording events second hand here. He talks of an “unknown reason” for the fire but an electrical fault was reported as most likely in later investigations. He also mentions the death toll included “several officers” - in typically exclusive fashion for the period - but it actually totaled no less than 21 (12 ORs and 9 officers) - all from Bn HQ "2nd Battalion Wiltshire Regiment" (actually 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment). He also incorrectly uses the initial C. instead of E.N. when referring to Edgar Moore who was simply referred to as “a C of E Brigade Chaplain” in Major Pickard's definitive report on the tragedy.