Person:Robert Moore (101)

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'Photo album' collage of two historical photographs, neither dated nor signed, each one showing the two brothers, Richmond Alexander (Alec) Peter Moore and Robert (Robbie) William Alfred Moore at two distinct times in their lives. The first (with Robbie on the left and Alec on the right), when they were both schoolboys - and probably shown here at their prep-school. And the second (with Alec on the left in top hat and Robbie on the right in army uniform), when they were both adult men. Alec probably already working as a schoolmaster, like his father. And Robert, as indicated by his uniform, already a Captain with the Royal Artillery. And probably not very long before he would be deployed to France, where he arrived at Cherbourg on the 3rd April 1940 - as part of the British Espeditionat Force (BEF).

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Roll of Honour

Robert William Alfred Moore was born in Crowthorne, Berkshire on 28th (sic)* November 1907, the son (of) Richmond and Elizabeth Moore.

Richmond Moore moved to Felsted in 1938 after the death of his wife. He lived at Bridge House, Hollow Road, Felsted. After the end of the war he moved to Reading in Berkshire to live with his daughter's family.

On 20th October 1939 the Essex Chronicle reported:

"The marriage took place on Tuesday at Chelsea Old Church, of Capt. Robert W.A. Moore, younger son of Mr. Richmond Moore, of Bridge House, Felsted, and the late Mrs Moore, with the Hon. Ruth Cokayne, youngest daughter of the late Lord Cullen of Ashbourne and of Lady Cullen Ashbourne, of White Plat, Coleman's Hatch."

Robert was a Captain 38407, 57 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. His unit were sent with the BEF to France, where he served gallantly, being mentioned in despatches.

The war diary for the regiment records that on 3rd April 1940 the regiment arrived in Cherbourg with the BEF.

After several moves the battalion was billeted in Merville, France on 23rd April, and in support of 131 Inf Brigade on the right of the divisional front (on the Belgian frontier) in the sector about ARMENTIERES.

The regiment started to see action against the enemy on 19th May 1940 at Jammelshoek.

On 18th may the regiment was under severe attack, and the war diary records “The remainder of R.H.Q was sent back under the Adjutant (Capt. R.W.A. Moore).”

The majority of the regiment reached Dunkirk on 29th May after being involved in severe action. The war diary for 29th May records “The majority of the Regiment reached DUNKIRK and by 0100hrs on 30.5.40 had sailed for ENGLAND. The bombing on the beach at DUNKIRK was practically continuous on the afternoon of 29.5.40 and only three of four British planes were seen during the whole period. The Adjutant (Capt R.W.A Moore) was killed”

Captain Robert Moore is buried at Dover (St. James) Cemetery, Kent.

On 7th June 1940 the Essex Chronicle reported:

Capt. R.W.A. Moore, Royal Artillery, who has been killed in action, was the younger son of Mr. Richmond Moore of Felsted. He was married in August last to Hon. Ruth Cokayne, youngest daughter of the late Lord Cullen of Ashbourne and of Lady Cullen of White Plat, Colman's (sic) Hatch, Sussex.

On 27th November 1940 a daughter, Elizabeth Virginia Moore was born. Ruth Moore, joined the Air Transport Auxiliary, and served as a Ferry Pilot between 1941 and 1943 flying military aircraft from factories to airfields. Ruth and Elizabeth appeared in the August 1943 edition of Flying magazine. (The full article can be seen via Google books)

Ruth re-married in 1949 to the Rev. David H. A. Williams.

As Richmond Moore left Felsted before the list of names for the War Memorial was compiled Capt Moore is not remembered on the village memorials.

—Reproduced from the 'Felsted Remembers' website ^S4

• His date of birth was registered as being on the 26th. of November, 1909.^S1

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 'Certified Copy of an Entry of Birth' - Given at the General Register Office.

   Registration District: Easthampstead / 1907 Birth in the Sub-district of Sandhurst in the County of Berks.
   « No: 387 | When and where born: Twentysixth November 1907 Wellington College Crowthorne R.D. | Name, if any: Robert William Alfred | Sex: Boy | Name and surname of father: Richmond Moore | Name, surname and maiden surname of mother: Elizabeth Cameron Moore formerly Abernethy | Occupation of father: Assistant Master at Wellington College | Signature, description and residence of informant: Richmond Moore Father Wellington College Crowthorne | When registered: Thirtieth December 1907 | Signature of registrar: Herbert Watts Registrar »
   Accessed on: a 'Certified Copy of an Entry of Birth' - Given at the General Register Office (GRO) under the Seal of the said Office, the 13th day of May 2009.

2. ↑ 'Certified Copy of an Entry of Marriage' - Given at the General Register Office.
   "October 17, 1939".

   General Register Office (GRO) – Certified Copy of an Entry of Marriage – 1939 Marriage solemnized at Chelsea Old Church, in the Parish of St. Luke’s Chelsea in the County of London / « No. 456 | When Married October 17th 1939 | Name and Surname Robert William Alfred Moore / Ruth Margaret Cokayne | Age 31 / 29 | Condition Bachelor / Spinster | Rank or Profession Army Officer / -- | Residence at the time of Marriage Drill Hall Br¿?g (Broadgate) Lincoln / 21 Old Church Street Chelsea SW3 | Father's Name and Surname Richmond Moore / Brien Ibrican Cokayne (deceased) | Rank or Profession of Father -- / Lord Cullen of Ashbourne |
   Married in the Old Church Chelsea according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Established Church by __ or after Banns by me, / Ralph E. Sadler - Incumbent |
   This Marriage was solemnized between us, { RWA Moore / Ruth Cokayne } in the Presence of us, { Grace Cullen of Ashbourne, Joyce Askew / Richmond Moore, Cullen of Ashbourne
   Certified to be a true copy of an entry in the register of Marriages in the Registration District of Chelsea / Given at the General Registry Office, the 2nd day of April 2007

3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 1911 Census, in Ancestry.com. 1911 England Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA.

   « Wellington College Public School, Crowthorne, Berkshire > Richmond Moore (52), Elizabeth Cameron Moore (47), his ‘wife’ & Joyce Mary Moore (7), daughter, Richmond Alexander Peter Moore, son (5), Robert William Alfred Moore, son (3); …. »

4. ↑ ^4.0 4.1 Berkshire, Bradfield College Register 1850-1924
   Page 297.

   « 3408 Moore, Robert William Alfred, Tidcombe, Tiverton, Devon
   b. (born) Nov. 1907, a. (admitted) Sep. 1921. S. ("Member of the School, Jan. 1924") »
   Accessed 27/01/2023 from pdf downloaded from genealogysupplies.com/

5. ↑ ^5.0 5.1 'Commonwealth War Graves Commission' website.

   « Captain ROBERT WILLIAM ALFRED MOORE / Service Number: 38407 / Regiment & Unit/Ship: Royal Artillery 57 Field Regt. / Date of Death: Died 30 May 1940 / Age 32 years old / Buried or commemorated at DOVER (ST. JAMES'S) CEMETERY Row C. Grave 4. United Kingdom »
   Accessed 21 Jan 2023 at: www.cwgc.org/

6. ↑ ^6.0 6.1 "Roll of Honour" webpage for 'Captain Robert William Alfred Moore' from the "Felsted and Little Dunmow Roll of Honour Project" website.

   Accessed on 21 Jan 2023 at www.felstedremembers.uwclub.net/

7. ↑ My mother's youngest brother, "Robert William Alfred Moore", was always called, within the family at least, by his nickname: 'Robbie'. He was known to me as my 'Uncle Robbie' - after whom, I believe I was named 'Robin'. —R.C.A. (Robinca)