Pte 15608 Robert Walmsley Moore

• Age: 22
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 12th October 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Robert Walmsley Moore was born in Liverpool on the 17^th Jan 1894 and was one of four sons and a daughter born to James Roskell Moore and his wife Mary Jane (nee Walmsley) who were married on the 17^th April 1893 at Our Lady of Lourdes and St Bernard, Toxteth.  James was of 168 Lodge Lane whilst Mary lived next door at 168 Lodge Lane.

Robert was baptised on the 04^th February 1894 also at Our Lady of Lourdes and St Bernard's Church. 

The 1901 Census shows his father James, aged 34 was living at his confectionery shop premises at 23 High Street, Wavertree. His mother, Mary, is 36 years of age and was born in Rochdale. They have four children in the household; Robert aged 7, Albert James, recorded as James is aged 6, Mary aged 4 and new born Francis. Also declared is Ellen Walmsley a 68 year old widow born in Rochdale and described as Mother in Law. The family also employ two servants.   

The family was still at the same address in 1911, his father was running his own catering business assisted by his wife and their eldest daughter Mary aged 14. His parents advised that they had been married for 18 years and had five children all of whom had survived. Robert is now 17 and employed as a clerk in the Corn Trade, Albert James is shown as James and in 1911 was employed as a clerk in the cotton trade, Francis is aged 10 and at school as is John aged 6. Also declared is Constance Armitage described as an assistant confectioner. 

On 31^st August 1914, both Robert and his brother Albert James enlisted in Liverpool and were serving in the 17^th Battalion, James gave his age as 20 years 330 days and enlisted as Private 15814 and Robert as Private 15608. 

His service record gives his age as 21 years and 7 months, occupation as a clerk. He was described as being 5’ 7½" tall, weight 141lbs, chest 36”, with a sallow complexion, brown hair and brown eyes. He states his religion as Roman Catholic and his next of kin as his father, James, of 23 High Street.   

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

His service record shows that in 1915, Robert was convicted of two discipline offences while in the UK - destroying Government clothing (3 days CB) and being 11 minutes late on parade (2 days CB). He too landed in France on 7^th November 1915, earning his 3 medals but between 31^st March and 15^th April 1916 was admitted to 22^nd Field Ambulance suffering from “PUO”, possibly Pain of Unknown Origin, and later diagnosed as Myalgia, ie muscle pain.

On 30th July 1916, Robert sustained a gunshot wound to his left forearm at Camiers and was hospitalised. On 16th August 1916 he rejoined his Unit and on 31st August was awarded his first Good Conduct badge for 2 years service. 

Robert was killed in action, on 12th October 1916, aged 22, during the Battle of Transloy Ridges.

17^th Bn War Diary:  Battle of Transloy Ridge –                                               

11-10-16 - Gird Trench/Gird Support – Battalion in front line and support trenches. British bombardment of enemy front line system commenced about midday.  Hostile shelling was intermittent throughout the day.

12-10-16  - Our bombardment continued. Enemy reply weak.  2.5 p.m. Zero hour. Attack on German front line system commenced.  Enemy wire was found to be uncut and attack was unsuccessful.  Hostile machine gun fire was very heavy and caused many casualties. Battalion H.Q. and Support Trench were heavily shelled throughout afternoon and evening. […] During this action all communication had to be carried out by runners and carrier pigeons as all wires were being continually cut by enemy shelling.

Casualties: 5 officers killed,  5 officers wounded, 38 OR killed, about 225 OR wounded/missing etc.

Graham Maddocks, in “Liverpool Pals” p.140, adds:

“As the whistle blew, the 17^th Battalion left its trenches to move forward.  […]  As soon as the attacking waves left their trenches the enemy artillery began to register on them, and at the same time, the defending infantry commenced a murderous rain of fire.  […]  Although their numbers had been depleted by the British bombardment, they were trained and experienced soldiers, well dug in on high ground, and for the most part, looking out on uncut wire.  As such, it was virtually impossible for them to miss the City Battalion men struggling to advance in the mud towards them.   The 17^th Battalion, on the left, was particularly badly hit, as its portion of No Man’s Land contained a slight rise in the ground, and as the troops emerged onto it they were silhouetted against the sky and became easy targets.  Those on the left of the attack, who managed to avoid the hail of bullets and make it to the German wire, then found that it was totally uncut, and thus trapped, they too became easy targets, to be picked off almost at the enemy’s will.  It was hardly surprising that, seeing the first waves being wiped out, some of the following waves turned back and made for their start lines. These lines were now packed with other waves of troops, however, and the fleeing men added to the congestion already there, and became easy prey for the German gunners.  There is some evidence also, to suggest that at this stage, the British trenches were also being hit by their own heavy artillery shells which were falling short.” 

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on Monday 30th October 1916;

MOORE - October 12, killed in action, aged 22 years, R. W. Moore (K.L R.), the eldest son of James and Mary Moore, 23, High-street, Wavertree. (Once again God’s will be done) R.I.P.

Also in the Nottingham and Midland Catholic News on Saturday 11th November 1916;

Private R. W. Moore, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. James Moore, of 23, High Street, Wavertree, Liverpool, has been killed in action. Deceased was 22 years of age, and was attached to the King's Liverpool Regiment. He resided in Our Lady's Parish, Wavertree.

Also in the Liverpool Daily Post on Monday 20th November 1916;

Killed.

King’s (Liverpool Regiment) - Moore, 15608, R.; 

Robert has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

Robert's death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 19th May 1917

Moore – October 12 Killed in Action age 22 R.W. Moore (KLR) the eldest son of James and Mary Moore, 23 High Street, Wavertree. (Once again Gods Will be done) RIP.

Soldiers Effects, army pay of £3 14s, war gratuity of £9 to father James, the Pensions of Robert and Albert went to mother Mary, 23 High Street, Wavertree.  

Robert's loss was the second tragedy to befall the family in 1916 as his brother, Albert James, was killed in action on 11th May 1916 and was buried in Cerisy-Gailly Cemetery, Grave II.D.2

His death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Thursday 01st June 1916;

Killed.

King’s (Liverpools) - Moore, 15614, J. (Liverpool); 

Robert is commemorated on the Catholic Institute School, Liverpool.

Robert’s father had to endure the deaths of his two remaining sons in the Second World War.  

Merchant Navy Steward John Moore died on the 25^th September 1942 when S.S. New York was torpedoed.

John is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London at Panel 73.  

Senior Aircraftman 1st Class 1681561 Francis Joseph Moore, aged 45, died on the 07^th March 1946 at the Royal Infirmary, Liverpool of coronary thrombosis. He has a CWGC headstone and now rests at Thurstaston (St Bartholomew Churchyard), Wirral. 

 Their parents celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary which was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 17^h April 1943: 

GOLDEN WEDDING  

MOORE—WALMSLEY— ApriI 17, 1893 at St. Bernard’s, Kingsley Road, Liverpool, JAMES ROSKELL MOORE to MARY JANE WALMSLEY, —Gowan Hill, Seaview Avenue, Irby (late High Street, Wavertree). Congratulations on your golden wedding. 

His mother, Mary, died aged 79, just days after their Golden Wedding on 26th April 1943. 

Her death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on 29^th April 1943: 

DEATHS  

MOORE— April 26, at Gowanhill. Seaview Avenue, Irby, formerly of High Street, Wavertree, MARY JANE, dearly-loved wife of James Moore. Funeral at Thurstaston Parish Church, to-morrow (Friday), at 2 p.m. 

His father died, aged 80, on the 09^th July 1947. 

Probate:- 

MOORE James Roskell of Gowan Hill, Seaview Avenue, Irby, Cheshire died 9 July 1947 Probate Lancaster 8 September to Mary Moore spinster. Effects £4045 10s 4d. 

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