George Raymond Dallas Moor
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George Raymond Dallas Moor VC, MC & Bar (22 October 1896–3 November 1918) was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Born in Australia and educated at Cheltenham College, Moor was 18 years old, and a second lieutenant attached to the 2nd Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment, British 29th Division, during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
Moor's citation in the London Gazette, 23 July 1915 reads:[1]
| “ | On 5 June 1915 south of Krithia, Gallipoli, Turkey, when a detachment of the battalion which had lost all its officers was rapidly retiring before a heavy Turkish attack, Second Lieutenant Moor, realising the danger to the rest of the line, dashed back some 200 yards, stemmed the retirement, led back the men and recaptured the lost trench. This brave act saved a dangerous situation | ” |
The action actually took place early on 6 June during the Turkish counter-attack following the Third Battle of Krithia. Moor "stemmed the retirement" by shooting four of his own men. In the words of the 29th Division's commander General Henry de Lisle, Moor shot "the leading four men and the remainder came to their senses."
Moor later achieved the rank of lieutenant and was killed in action, Mouveaux, France, on 3 November 1918.
He was awarded the Military Cross and bar (second award). At the time of the second award he was ADC to the General Officer Commanding 30th Division, and an acting General Staff Officer, Grade III. The citation in the London Gazette, 29 July 1919 reads:[2]
| “ | On October 20th, 1918, about Pijpestraatthe vanguard commander was wounded and unable to carry on. Owing to heavy shelling and machine-gun fire, the vanguard came to a standstill. Lieut. Moor, Acting General Staff Officer, who was reconnoitring the front, noticed this ; he immediately took charge, and by his fearless example and skilful leading continued the advance until the objective was reached. He has a positive contempt for danger, and distinguishes himself on every occasion.
(M.C. gazetted 2nd December, 1918.) |
” |
His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum & Memorial Garden, Winchester, England.
[edit] References
- ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29240, page 7279, 23 July 1915. Retrieved on 2007-12-11.
- ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31480, page 9700, 29 July 1919. Retrieved on 2007-12-11.
- Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
- The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
- VCs of the First World War - Gallipoli (Stephen Snelling, 1995)
