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Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916


CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916


Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916


Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916


Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918
Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft

L/Cpl 51941 John Tomlinson Moore


  • Age: 21
  • From: Liverpool
  • Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
  • K.I.A Saturday 23rd March 1918
  • Commemorated at: Pozieres Memorial
    Panel Ref: P21-23

John Tomlinson Moore was born in Liverpool in 1897 the only son of Robert Moore and his wife Elizabeth (nee Tomlinson). His parents married in 1895 and had two children. John had a younger sister, Jane, born in 1898.  His father was born in Ireland, and his mother was born in Liverpool.

In 1901 his father, Robert, is a 42 year old grocer, employer, working from home at 60 Wallasey Road, Liscard. His mother, Elizabeth, is 35 years of age. John T. is 4 and his sister Jane G. is 2 and was also born in Liverpool. Also declared is Ada Tomlinson, a 29 year old domestic servant described as a Cousin. 
 
In 1911 they are at “Tomoorea”, 17 Albion Street, New Brighton.  His mother is 45, married, but his father is not in the household. She advised that they have been married for 16 years and have had two children. John Tomlinson is 14, and Jane Graham aged 13, are at school.
 
John enlisted in Liverpool joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 51941. 

He was serving as Lance Corporal in ‘A’ Company, Lewis Gun section, when he was killed in action on 23rd March 1918, aged 21, during the German Spring Offensive.

The Battalion diary gives an insight into the events of the day:

23rd March

Battalion HQ established in position near North Bridge. Battalion in defensive positions N. of HAM

At 6.30 am our troops began to retire through the town and gave information that the enemy had broken through on their flanks and at 7am the bridge north of HAM was blown up. Slow retirement made through the town, the enemy having apparently entered from the South Eastern end and being well inside the town. At 7.30am the South Bridge was also blown up. Morning very misty and difficult to distinguish our troops from the enemy.

8.30am In conjunction with the 18th Bn KLR position established N.E. of VERLAINES. During the morning our troops advanced and established a position on the crest of hill S.W. of HAM in spite of heavy machine gun fire. Two enemy M.G.’s captured and enemy aeroplane which had been flying low over our positions was brought down by rifle fire. Hostile machine guns and enemy aeroplanes very active, also enemy artillery in and S. of VERLAINES.

Battn H.Q. in sunken road abt 200 yards N.E.of VERLAINES. About 12 noon details of 61st Division passed through our position occupied by Bn. H.Q. under orders to capture VERLAINES. They went forward to positions occupied by our troops and dug in on the left of our position. Their positions were reconnoitred and found to be very unsatisfactory, and it was arranged that he should thin out and deploy his troops more to the left, ours being extended to keep joined up with him.

John was originally reported as Missing. 

His anxious parents appealed for information in the Liverpool Echo on 26th April 1918:

Lance corporal John T.Moore (Lewis Gun Section,K.L.R.), is reported missing since March 23.News welcomed by Mr. And Mrs.Robert Moore, "Tomoorea," Albion street,Wallasey.

They appealed again in the Liverpool Evening News on 30th April 1918:

“Lance-Corp. John T. Moore, Lewis Gun section K.L.R., has been offically notified as missing since March 23rd last.  Any news concerning him will be gratefully received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Moore, "Tomoorea," Albion Street, Wallasey.” 

His father, at 17 Albion Street, New Brighton, wrote to the International Red Cross in hopes that John had been taken prisoner.  He received a reply, sent on 12th July 1918, that they held no information. Evidently further enquiries were made, as negative replies were also sent on 19th November and 21st January 1919.  
 
His death was finally reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on Saturday 17 May 1919: 

KILLED IN ACTION.  

MOORE— Reported wounded and missing March 23, 1918, now officially presumed killed on that date or afterwards, Lance-Corpl. John Tomlinson Moore, 17th K.L.R., beloved and only son of Mr and Mrs Robert Moore, 17 Albion-st., New Brighton. 

John's body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as his name is recorded on the Pozieres Memorial in France. 

The POZIERES MEMORIAL relates to the period of crisis in March and April 1918 when the Allied Fifth Army was driven back by overwhelming numbers across the former Somme battlefields, and the months that followed before the Advance to Victory, which began on 8 August 1918. The Memorial commemorates over 14,000 casualties of the United Kingdom and 300 of the South African Forces who have no known grave and who died on the Somme from 21 March to 7 August 1918.

The cemetery and memorial were designed by W.H. Cowlishaw, with sculpture by Laurence A. Turner. The memorial was unveiled by Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien on 4 August 1930. 

His parents received his Army effects and a War Gratuity of £19-10s. They were awarded a pension of 5/- a week.p from 08th August 1919 which perhaps suggests it was as late as this when they were finally provided with confirmation of John's death.
 
His parents both lived to the age of 87, his father dying in 1944 and his mother in 1954.
 
John is remembered on his parents’ gravestone in Toxteth Park Cemetery, Liverpool:
 
IN 
LOVING MEMORY OF
JOHN TOMLINSON MOORE
KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE
23RD MARCH 1918, AGED 21 YEARS
 
His parents address at the time that they advised the CWGC of John's details was 17 Albion Street, New Brighton
  
John is also commemorated on the Memorials at;
 
St. James' Church, New Brighton

London and Lancashire Fire Insurance Co.Ltd. Book, Liverpool.

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

 

Killed On This Day.

(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
L/Cpl 29203 Valentine Alexander
26 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 27948 Joseph Atherton
26 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 51896 Richard Edward Banks
34 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 46630 Watson Bell
38 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Lieut Roland Henry Brewerton
27 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 51708 Charles Norman Dod
21 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
L/Cpl 94246 Frank Emison
24 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 23056 John William Jones
27 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 49572 John Henry Leadbeater (MM)
27 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Sgt 22462 James Lowe (MID)
25 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 51712 Edgar Domenico Murray
21 years old
(108 Years this day)
Tuesday 30th April 1918.
Pte 269899 Harry Pitts
21 years old

A total of 14 Pals were killed on this day. View All