Lieut William Henry Moore

William Henry and twin brother Herbert Thomas Moore were born on 12th April 1887 in Northwich, Cheshire, the sons of Thomas Moore and his wife Mary Jane (nee Whittle, otherwise Sanderson) who were married on the 26th May 1885, registered in Runcorn. His father had originally married Emily Sophia Churchouse on the 15th June 1864 at St Mary, Lambeth, and they had 4 children before Emily died, aged 35, in 1874.

William was baptised on 05th May 1887 at Dane Bridge, Macclesfield.  

On the 1891 Census the family are living at “Riversdale”, Dobells Road, Leftwich, Northwich. His father, Thomas, is aged 51, an accountant and builders merchant born in Northwich, his mother, Mary Jane, is aged 30 born in Liverpool, children Maria Emily 21, Thomas 18, Emily Sophia 16, Herbert Thomas and William Henry aged 3, and Doris Sanderson 2. They also have 3 servants, cook Amy Fairhurst 21, housemaid Emily Tarbuck 18, and nurse Mary Brookes 18. 

His father died, aged 59, on the 11th November 1898. 

His death was reported in the Alderley & Wilmslow Advertiser - Friday 18 November 1898 

DEATH OF A CHESHIRE MAN. 

On Friday morning after two hours illness, Mr Thomas Moore, one of the best known men in Cheshire died at his residence Riversdale, Northwich. Deceased, who was in his 60th year, was secretary of the Salt Chamber of Commerce of the United Kingdom, manager of the Northwich Carrying Company, the operations of which extended throughout Cheshire and Liverpool, trustee of the River Weaver, a prominent Freemason, director of the Northwich Electric Light Company, a member of the Northwich Technical Committee, and for some years a member of the Northwich Local Board. Dr Marsh has certified syncope[low blood pressure] as the course of death. On Monday the remains of the deceased gentleman was accorded the honour of one of the largest and most impressive public funerals ever held in the salt district. The internment took place at Davenham, and the mourners included representatives of the Urban Council, the Weaver Trust, the Technical Committee, Cheshire Freemasons, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Electric Light Company, with all of which he was associated, the Salt and Chemical Trades, licensed victuallers, and many others. 

Probate 1898:- 

MOORE Thomas of Riversdale, Northwich Cheshire builders merchant died 11 November 1898 Administration London 19 December to Mary Jane Moore widow. Effects £14,943 5s. 

In 1901 William and twin brother Herbert were boarders at Arnold House School, Chester. Their widowed mother had moved back to Northwich at Holly Bank, Highfield Road, with siblings Maria 31, Doris 12, Evelyn 9, Lester 7 and Esme 5. 

Around 1909 William joined the Territorial Force of the 5th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment and was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant on the 15th June 1909.  

London Gazette 15th June, 1909.  

TERRITORIAL FORCE. ... INFANTRY. 5th Battalion, The King's (Liverpool Regiment) ... William Henry Moore to be Second Lieutenant. Dated 12th May, 1909. 

On the 1911 Census the family have moved to 60 Chester Road, Chester. His widowed mother, Mary, is now aged 50, William H. is aged 23 a clerk in the timber trade, Leslie C. 17, Doris S. 22, Evelyn M. 19, and Esme 15. They have 2 servants, Mary Logan 36 and Annie Morgan 19.  

In 1912 he progressed in 5/KLR and was gazetted a full Lieutenant on the 12th July 1912. 

London Gazette 12th July, 1912.  

TERRITORIAL FORCE ... Infantry. 5th Battalion, The King's (Liverpool Regiment); the undermentioned Second Lieutenants to be Lieutenants. Dated 29th May, 1912. William H. Moore. 

London Gazette 26th May, 1914. 

TERRITORIAL FORCE RESERVE. ... Infantry.  

Lieutenant William H. Moore, from the 5th Battalion, The King's (Liverpool Regiment), to be Lieutenant. Dated 17th April, 1914 

On 01st September 1914, William enlisted at St George's Hall, Liverpool joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 15642. He gave his age as 27 years 150 days, born in Northwich, and giving his employment as clerk . He was described as being 5' 6" tall, weight 133lbs with a 36" chest. He had a fair complexion with blue eyes and grey hair. He stated his religion as C.of E. and next of kin his mother, 60 Chester Road. 

He also declared he was in the Reserve of Officers attached to 5/KLR and a retired Lt with the 5KLR.   

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14th 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.

It was on the 10th May 1915 under KR392(ii) his enlistment was classified as “irregular” and he was discharged (It is thought that as a reserve officer you were not allowed to enlist as a Private.) 

It was not long before 5KLR were most happy to take him back as an Officer, he was gazetted a full Lieutenant on the 26th July 1914. 

William married 25 year old Doris Marion Minshall, the eldest daughter of John and Dora Minshall of Oswestry, and cousin of Captain T. C. Wynne Minshall, Royal Welsh Fusiliers (Killed in Action in 1918).   

The wedding was featured in the Liverpool Echo on Wednesday 18th August 1915 

MOORE–MINSHALL August 17 at Christ Church, Oswestry, by the Rev. J. J. Poynter, Lieutenant W. H. Moore, 3/5 King's (Liverpool Regiment), son of the late Thos. Moore and Mrs. Moore of Liverpool Road, Chester, to Doris Marion, daughter of Mr and Mrs. John Minshall, Oswestry. 

William went to France on 12th February 1916 joining the battalion at Halloy and Beaumetz near to Arras.  

Liverpool Daily Post - Friday 26 May 1916 

Liverpool Regiment.—The undermentioned are seconded for duty with brigade machine-gun company:- 

Lieutenant W. H. Moore.  

William was killed in action on the 08th August 1916 at Maltz Horn Farm, Guillemont during the Somme Offensive.  

1/5 KLR Battalion Diary 

MALTZ HORN FARM AREA of firing and support lines.  

AUGUST 8.  

3156 Rfn. PROCTOR A. H., awarded VC for gallant conduct at WAILLEY on June 4th 1916.  

After 20 minutes of intense bombardment the Bn. attacked a 4.20 a.m. from the patios of our line opposite the objective allotted to us, which was the ground from B 1 c 20.85 to T 25 a 3.2. On our right we assaulted from a special assembly trench dug during the night by 1 company 6 KLR; on our left from the existing fire trench. The four companies arranged from right to left A B C D went over the parapet simultaneously. Bright tin discs were worn on the backs of jackets and green flares were carried. Both devices being designed to inform aerial observers of the exact infantry progress. The French were advancing concurrently on the right of and in touch with A company. The companies advanced steadily in spite of heavy and well aimed fire. A and B companies were eventually compelled to dig themselves in on the crest of the slope about 130 yards from our line. C and D companies established themselves about 350 yards from the original trench. All companies made good cover rapidly and maintained their positions. They were entirely cut off from our main trenches and spent a very strenuous day deepening their new trenches and generally strengthening their position with the means at their disposal. After dark supplies of food and material were brought forward and further consolidation was pushed on.  

AUGUST 9. 

Shortly before dawn part of C and D companies were relieved by the 7th KLR, the remainder being unable to leave until after dark the following evening. A and B companies should have been relieved on the night 8th to the 9th by 6th KLR but owing to a mistake this relief was not effected until 11:00 a.m. on the 9th. This daylight relief was possible because A company had dug through to its right to COCHRAN ALLEY and established connection with the French and British troops there. The chief lessons emerging from this operation where – Firstly, the necessity of carrying maximum amounts of stores and tools with the assaulting troops owing to the frequent impossibility of reaching captured positions with supplies. Secondly, the supreme importance of rapid and inconspicuous digging in. The German rifle and M.G. fire was deadly and their artillery barrage very strong and efficient. The Bn. was naturally extremely exhausted and proceeded by companies to Brigade Reserve at TALUS BOISE (A 9 c).  

2/Lt’s V.F. GALE-VINE and H.V. JOHNSON joined the Bn. from England.  

Casualties:- Officers. Killed. Major H.J. DUNCAN, Lieut W. H. MOORE, 2/Lt’s H.B. COX, D.H. LONGBOTTOM, C.L. WILSON.    Wounded. Capts A. REID, H.G. KEET, 2/Lt’s J. HAYHURST, G.E. HAYWOOD. O.R. killed 65, wounded 173, missing 64. 

His death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Wednesday 16th August 1916: 

CHESTER OFFICER KILLED. 

The death in action reported of a well-known Chester officer, Lieutenant W. H. Moore, of The King’s (Liverpool Regiment). A telegram conveying the sad intelligence was received from the War Office on Monday afternoon by his family, who reside at 60, Liverpool road. Lieutenant Moore, who was about twenty-eight years of age, was an old Territorial officer, and resigned his commission some time before the war. At the time of the outbreak of hostilities he enlisted as a private in the Liverpool  "Pals." Later he was called on the reserve of officers of the Territorial Army, and transferred to his old regiment. He was educated at Arnold House School, Chester, and afterwards became, engaged in a wood merchant’s business in Northwich and Liverpool. A good all-round sportsman, excelled as an oarsman, and won several prizes in the Chester Regatta contests. He was married only recently. A brother of the deceased officer is serving in the Royal Garrison Artillery. 

His death was also reported in the Chester Chronicle on Saturday 19th August 1916 

LIEUT. W. H. MOORE.  

The news will be received with regret in Chester and Northwich of the death Lieut. W. H. Moore, of the King's Liverpool Regiment, and a son of the late Mr. Moore and Mrs. Moore, the latter living at “Ferndale,” Liverpool-road, Chester. A telegram conveying the sad news to his family reached Chester from the War Office Monday afternoon. Lieut. Moore, who was about 28 years of age, was an old Territorial officer, and resigned his commission some time before the war. At the time of the outbreak of hostilities he was spending a holiday, but with a fine sense of patriotism immediately returned and enlisted as a private in the Liverpool “Pals.” Later was called up on the reserve of officers of the Territorial Army, and transferred to his old regiment. He was educated at Arnold House School, Chester, and afterwards became engaged in business in Northwich and Liverpool. A good all-round sportsman, he excelled as oarsman, and won several prizes in the Chester Regatta contests. He was a popular member of the Royal Chester Rowing Club. Deceased married in August last to Doris Marion, the elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Minshall, Castle View, Oswestry. The deceased’s father was connected with the business Messrs. Moore and Brock, general merchants, who have establishments in Northwich, and Lieut. Moore with other members of the family formerly lived in Northwich. At the time he joined the army he was in the Liverpool office learning the business with view becoming a partner. 

William was at first buried near to CARNOY, beside the track on the way to Talus Boisé and was later re-interred at Peronne Road Cemetery, Maricourt.  

The Cemetery, originally known as Maricourt Military Cemetery No.3, was begun by fighting units and Field Ambulances in the Battles of the Somme 1916, and used until August 1917; a few graves were added later in the War, and at the Armistice it consisted of 175 graves which now form almost the whole of Plot I. It was completed after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the battlefields in the immediate neighbourhood and from certain smaller burial grounds.

Soldiers Effects went to widow Doris Marion, no Pension record found but William’s Medal Card gives her address as York Street Chambers, Bryanston Square, London W1. 

Doris was declared on the 1921 Census:- 

Doris Marion, Moore, 1890, Oswestry, Shropshire, England, St Marylebone, St Marylebone, London, Middlesex.

His mother, Mary Jane, left Liverpool on the 25th July 1925 aboard the Blue Funnel Line T.S.S. “Ascanius” set for Cape Town. Judging by the entourage (daughter Esme and 4 members of the Minshall family) they were emigrating for good.  

She died on the 3rd May 1936 in Nylstroom, Transvaal, South Africa. 

The Cheshire Observer of Saturday 18 December 1937 reported that his widow remarried: 

The marriage will shortly take place, very quietly, between Colin Clayton, of 1, Pump Court, Temple, E.C.4, second son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler Clayton, of West Worthy, and Doris Marion Moore, of 7, Wyndham Place, W.1, widow of W. H Moore, and elder daughter of the late Mr. John Minshall and Mrs. Minshall, of Oswestry. 

On the 1939 Register they appear at Flat 6, Nottingham Mews(?), Nottingham Street, Marylebone, London.  

Doris, date of birth 28th December 1899, Colin Clayton, date of birth 13th August 1895, is an Official of the Airwaves, barrister of law and the chief of “The Times” staff.  

Doris died, aged 71, in 1971, her death was registered in St Pancras.

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