Mikemike88 Posted 27 September , 2019 Share Posted 27 September , 2019 Hi, Recently acquired a set of Carl Zeiss Jena binoculars which were said to date around the period of the Boer War. I would agree with this assessment as the characteristics of the binoculars would support this. However them and the case have an inscription for a W G Moore. Also on the binoculars themselves it says ‘1st Lanc R.G.A. (Vols)’. What I am wondering was if anyone knows anything about this regiment and if they would have been involved in the Boer War or if perhaps this inscription may actually have come at a later period. Even better would be if someone may have any information about the individual. Normally I would collect WW2 items so earlier periods not really my wheelhouse. Any assistance anyone could offer would be greatly appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikB Posted 27 September , 2019 Share Posted 27 September , 2019 From the Wikipedia entry for Royal Garrison Artillery, it looks as if the RGA (Vols) only existed after 1902, and they're not in the index of my Boer War (Osprey) book as the RFA and RHA are, so Boer War involvement looks unlikely. The nature of the war wouldn't generally have have been suited to their type of artillery anyway. I'd think a WW1 origin more probable, but can't really offer much more help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave66 Posted 27 September , 2019 Share Posted 27 September , 2019 (edited) Hello and welcome, William George Moore...Gent, is gazetted as gaining his commission in April 1903...https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27545/page/2532 2nd Lt W G Moore, promoted to Lt in 1905 here....https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27761/page/847 And Lt W G Moore resigns his commission here in 1908...https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28109/page/1051 Dave. Edit...he rejoins the R.G.A. in Oct 1914, and is a temporary Lt....https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28940/page/8251 There is a medal index card is here on ancestry that I’m fairly certain will be him, ends up as acting major and awarded the M.C.....https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=Thc2&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&indiv=1&dbid=1262&gsfn=William george&gsln=Moore&gsfn_x=1&gsln_x=1&cp=0&qh=k5WfmGJ%2BCX5d7ymr77utYg%3D%3D&new=1&rank=1&uidh=l37&redir=false&gss=angs-d&pcat=39&fh=0&h=3708339&recoff=&ml_rpos=1 Edited 27 September , 2019 by Dave66 Added link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikemike88 Posted 28 September , 2019 Author Share Posted 28 September , 2019 Gents, Many thanks for the info. Very interesting indeed. I can’t thank you enough. The time you have taken to respond to my query it very much appreciated and really enhances the item for me. Cheers Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave66 Posted 28 September , 2019 Share Posted 28 September , 2019 3 minutes ago, Mikemike88 said: Gents, Many thanks for the info. Very interesting indeed. I can’t thank you enough. The time you have taken to respond to my query it very much appreciated and really enhances the item for me. Cheers Michael Nice little bit of history you have there Michael, These would have been expensive in their day, and even though the evidence doesn’t point towards boer war use, I’m sure, with officers having to provide their own equipment William would have taken them with him in the Great War. Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikemike88 Posted 28 September , 2019 Author Share Posted 28 September , 2019 Dave, If I wanted find out more about this individuals history e.g. why he was awarded the MC, where he served, what would you suggest would be the best way to go about this? Thanks michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave66 Posted 28 September , 2019 Share Posted 28 September , 2019 (edited) 37 minutes ago, Mikemike88 said: Dave, If I wanted find out more about this individuals history e.g. why he was awarded the MC, where he served, what would you suggest would be the best way to go about this? Thanks michael His M.C. is gazetted here, 1st Jan 1919. Can’t find an actual citation but the award was in connection to military services in Salonica (his medal index card shows first field of conflict salonica April 1917)....https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31095/supplement/77 Gazette will give you all of his further rank notifications, and with either ancestry or find my past you will be able to narrow down the personal information...you may find your local library may offer free access to these, or you may wish to take out a subscription. Best set of luck, Dave. Edit...screenshot of ancestry’s medal index card below. Edited 28 September , 2019 by Dave66 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikemike88 Posted 28 September , 2019 Author Share Posted 28 September , 2019 Good man. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave66 Posted 28 September , 2019 Share Posted 28 September , 2019 (edited) Can’t pin him down on ancestry as too many possibles, but national archives has an officer file possibly for him here...not digitised I’m afraid..https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C1064599 Edited 28 September , 2019 by Dave66 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikemike88 Posted 30 September , 2019 Author Share Posted 30 September , 2019 I’ve requested a page check from the archives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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