Pte 59562 James Moore

• Age: 22
• From: Peel, I.O.M
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Lijssenthoek M C Poperinghe
  Panel Ref: XVI.J.3

James Moore was born on 19th February 1895 in Peel, Isle of Man, the son of Philip Moore and his wife Eleanor Jane (nee Garrett), who were married on the 08th January 1887 at St Peter Parish Church, German, I.O.M. James wasn't baptised until the 24th March 1907 at St John the Evangelist Church, German, I.O.M.

The 1901 Census records the family living at Ballawattleworth, German. James' father Philip is aged 38 and is a horseman on a farm, his mother Ellen J. is aged 34. They have four children in nthe household; Eleanor E. aged 14, John T. aged 12, Catherine aged 9, and James aged 6. 

The 1911 Census records the family living at 40 Market Street Peel. His father, Phillip is aged 50 and born 1861 and is a horseman on a farm, his mother Eleanor is aged 45 born 1866, both being born in German, Isle of Man. He has two sisters, Eleanor is aged 24, born 1887 and is occupied doing house wife duties and Edith aged 12 born 1899 is still at school. James is working as a Farm labourer and has a younger brother Edward aged 4 born 1907. All the siblings were born in Braddan, Isle of Man.  

James enlisted and was serving in the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 59562 when he died of wounds on the 31st July 1917 aged 22. 

His death was reported in the Peel City Guardian on Saturday 18th August 1917 under the header:

Peel Man Dies Of Wounds

The letter has been received informing Mr and Mrs Philip Moore, of Strand street, Peel of the death in France of their son from wounds:

August 3rd.

Dear Mrs Moore,—I deeply regret to say that your son, Pte. J. Moore, 59562, died here of wounds in the left leg at 7-30 p.m. on July 31st. He was only with us a few hours, and passed away very peacefully after I had commended his soul to God. He sent his love to you and wished you not to worry. All his effects will be sent to you. God bless you and sustain you in this great sorrow. His body lies in the Lyssenthoek Military Cemetery (Plot I6, J3), 2 miles south-west of Poperinghe.—Yours in deep sympathy,

D. M. Salmon, C.F.,

C. of E. Chaplain. 

His death was also reported in the Mona's Herald, on Wednesday 22nd August 1917:

Mr and Mrs Philip Moore, of Strand street, Peel, have received word through a Chaplain to the Force, that their son, Private J. Moore died from wounds in the left leg on July 31st. Prior to the war, deceased worked on Ballakillmurray Farm. He joined the Army in February last, and went over to France in May.  

James now rests in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Poperinghe, Belgium where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“A PLACE IS VACANT AT OUR HEARTH A VOICE WE LOVED IS STILL”

During the First World War, the village of Lijssenthoek was situated on the main communication line between the Allied military bases in the rear and the Ypres battlefields. Close to the Front, but out of the extreme range of most German field artillery, it became a natural place to establish casualty clearing stations. The cemetery was first used by the French 15th Hopital D'Evacuation and in June 1915, it began to be used by casualty clearing stations of the Commonwealth forces.

From April to August 1918, the casualty clearing stations fell back before the German advance and field ambulances (including a French ambulance) took their places.

The cemetery contains 9,901 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 24 being unidentified. There are 883 war graves of other nationalities, mostly French and German, 11 of these are unidentified. There is 1 Non World War burial here.

The only concentration burials were 24 added to Plot XXXI in 1920 from isolated positions near Poperinghe and 17 added to Plot XXXII from St. Denijs Churchyard in 1981.

Eight of the headstones are Special Memorials to men known to be buried in this cemetery, these are located together alongside Plot 32 near the Stone of Remembrance.

The cemetery, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield, is the second largest Commonwealth cemetery in Belgium.

James earned two medals, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

Soldiers Effects to father Phillip, Pension to mother Eleanor.

His father died, aged 59, in 1921 and was buried on the 14th April 1921 at German, I.O.M.

His mother died, aged 59, in 1926 and was buried on the 11th March 1921 at German, I.O.M.

We currently have no further information on James Moore, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.