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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Inscription on binoculars


Mikemike88

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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.

20190505_173619.jpg

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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.

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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 by Dave66
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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 

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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.

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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 

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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.

 

8DFBCA58-72BA-4A22-883F-54EC4E560242.jpeg

Edited by Dave66
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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 by Dave66
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