SAPPER BENJAMIN MOORE
24 – Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company
Benjamin Moore was born in 1893 at Dunolly, Victoria the son of Francis Ambrose and Mary Ann (nee Sexton) Moore.
On July 6, 1915 at twenty-two years of age he applied to enlist for active service abroad at the recruiting depot passing the preliminary medical examination in Mildura, Vic. Attestation forms reveal he was a miner / labourer standing 158cms (5ft 2ins) tall, weighed 52.7kgs (116lbs) with a chest expansion of 84-89cms (33-35ins). Fair was his complexion with grey eyes and brown wavy hair. Church of England was his religious faith. Distinctive marks were a vertical scar 1½ins long on the internal border of his foot and four vaccination scars on his left arm. Next-of-kin was his father F.A. Moore of Perry Street, Wangaratta, Vic and later changed to his mother Mary Ann Moore of the same address. He was re-examined and sworn in on July 15, 1915 in Melbourne, Vic.
Basic training for Private Moore took place at Seymour, Vic with 66th Company and continued with ‘S Coy’ and ‘Q Coy’ until December 11, 1915 when he was transferred to the Miners’ Corps in Melbourne. He was assigned to their Headquarters in the rank of sapper with the regimental number 24.
At Ascot Vale, Vic on December 7, 1915 another medical examination and Attestation Papers were completed giving almost the same information and was sworn in the same day.
At a civic parade in the Domain, Sydney on Saturday February 19, 1916, a large crowd of relations and friends of the departing Miners lined the four sides of the parade ground. Sixty police and 100 Garrison Military Police were on hand to keep the crowds within bounds. The scene was an inspiriting one. On the extreme right flank, facing the saluting base, were companies of the Rifle Club School; next came a detachment of the 4th King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, then the bands of the Light Horse, Liverpool Depot, and the Miners’ on the left, rank upon rank, the Miners’ Battalion.
The Corps boarded HMAT A38 Ulysses in Sydney, NSW on February 20 and sailed for the European theatre. Arriving in Melbourne, Victoria on February 22 the Miners camped at Broadmeadows for a stay of 7 days while further cargo was loaded.
Another parade was held at the Broadmeadows camp on March 1, the Miners’ Corps being inspected by the Governor-General, as Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth military forces.
Leaving Melbourne on March 1, Ulysses arrived at Fremantle, Western Australia on March 7 where a further 53 members were taken on board.
On Wednesday March 8, 1916 the whole force, with their band and equipment, paraded at Fremantle prior to leaving Victoria Quay at 9.30 o’clock.
The ship hit a reef when leaving Fremantle harbour, stripping the plates for 40 feet and, although there was a gap in the outside plate, the inner bilge plates were not punctured. The men on board nicknamed her ‘Useless’. The Miners were off-loaded and sent to the Blackboy Hill Camp where further training was conducted.
The H.S. Pay Department at Broadmeadows camp, near Melbourne reported him Absent without Leave on March 27, 1916 but he would have been in camp at in W.A.
The Mining Corps comprised 1303 members at the time they embarked with a Headquarters of 40; No.1 Company – 390; No.2 Company – 380; No.3 Company – 392, and 101 members of the 1st Reinforcements.
Finally departing Fremantle on April 1, Ulysses voyaged via Suez, Port Said and Alexandria in Egypt. The Captain of the shipwas reluctantto take Ulysses out of the Suez Canal because he felt the weight of the ship made it impossible to manoeuvre in the situation of a submarine attack. The troops were transhipped to HM Transport B.1 Ansonia, then on to Valetta, Malta before disembarking at Marseilles, France on May 5, 1916. As a unit they entrained at Marseilles on May 7 and detrained on May 11 at Hazebrouck.
A ‘Mining Corps’ did not fit in the British Expeditionary Force, and the Corps was disbanded and three Australian Tunnelling Companies were formed. The Technical Staff of the Corps Headquarters, plus some technically qualified men from the individual companies, was formed into the entirely new Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company (AEMMBC), better known as the ‘Alphabetical Company’.
Sapper Moore remained with the Corps Headquarters.
On July 13, 1916 he went sick to the 12th Casualty Clearing Station with Influenza and rejoined his unit four days later.
His mother Mary Ann Moore wrote to Base Records about September 14, 1916 advising that her address was now 233 Brigport Street, Albert Park, Vic. Acknowledgment was returned from Records Office dated September 27, 1919 and recorded.
He was transferred from Headquarters to the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company on October 7, 1916 and taken on strength.
At a Board of Inquiry convened at Broadmeadows, Melbourne on October 27, 1916 he was declared under Army Act 72 to be a deserter and deficient in issued articles under camp order 63, para 2 of 1916 and was struck off strength. The camp Quartermaster reported that ‘so far as I am aware there is no record of this man’s issue.’ The court having duly considered evidence that ‘he illegally absented himself without leave from Broadmeadows camp on 27/3/16 and was still so absent.’ It is possible that due to his second Attestation taken at Ascot Vale camp on December 7, 1915 caused this confusion.
Sapper was issued with Blue Chevrons to wear on his uniform after serving twelve months abroad.
Service continued without incident and he was reported from an audit of the company to be ‘with unit’ on March 23, 1918. He was paid in France on May 6, 1918.
His mother notified Base Records on August 17, 1918 that her address was now 41 Pickett Street, Footscray, Vic.
Leave to the United Kingdom was granted from September 1, 1918.
At the Registry Office in Richmond, Surrey on September 14, 1918 Benjamin Moore (26) of 69 Avondale Road, Mortlake was married by licence to Mary Ellen Money (nee Phillips) (22), widow, of the same address and daughter of George Frederick Phillips (deceased bricklayer). The ceremony was performed by Frank Staples, Deputy Registrar.
The following disciplinary action took place on September 21, 1918:
Crime:W.O.A.S. A.W.L. by overstaying leave to the U.K. Absent from
6.30 a.m. 16/9/18 until reporting 6.30 a.m. 18/9/18 (absent 48hrs)
Award:7 days F.P. No.2 by C.O.
Total forfeiture:9 day’s pay
He was a member of the company when Peace was declared and they remained on the front continuing to generate electricity and supply and service small engines and pumps for water supplies for those rehabilitating their districts.
The address of his wife was advised to Base Records on January 2, 1919 as being Mrs Mary Ellen Moore of 71 Guinness Buildings, Fulham Place Road, Hammersmith, London.
Orders were received for 1915-16 personnel prepare for demobilisation to England on March 8, 1919 and they departed from the Aust Infantry Base Depot on March 17 and crossed the English Channel arriving the next day at the No. 2 Training Brigade camp at Codford.
He left No. 3 Group camp on April 12, 1919 sick and was sent to the 1st Aust Dermatological Hospital at Bulford for treatment of a Social Disease. On May 10 he was attached for duty with the 1st A.D.H.
On June 14, 1919 the following was dealt with:
Offence:Bulford 11/6/19 A.W.L. 23.59hrs 11/6/19 to 23.59hrs 13/6/19
Award:2 days F.P. No. 2 by Lt-Col C.J. Wiley 14/6/19
Total forfeiture:4 day’s pay
He marched out for indefinite leave until he was to return to Australia.
Accompanied by his wife and child, Sapper Moore embarked for Australia on the H.T. Berrima. Base Records advised his parents on September 30, 1919 that he was on his way home. The ship docked in Melbourne (3rd M.D.) on November 2, 1919. News of their arrival was printed in:
He was assessed by the disembarkation medical board on November 2, 1919 and his case stated ‘no hospital’ and was dentally fit. Discharge was recommended.
Military Discharge was issued in Melbourne (3rd M.D.) on December 25, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment.
Sapper 24 Benjamin Moore, Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company was issued for service for his country the British War Medal (35226) and the Victory Medal (34971).
These medals were not collected from the designated Barracks and returned to Base Records on May 10, 1923. Notification care of the last known address was sent to him and he wrote on May 17, 1923 from 75 Nelson Street, Rozelle, Sydney requesting these medals be sent to him. These were forwarded on May 31, 1923 and he receipted delivery on June 4, 1923.
Benjamin Moore died in the R.P.M. Hospital, Sydney on May 8, 1928 aged 35 years with the death registered at Newtown, NSW. A legal notice was published in the:
Malleson Stewart & Co. Solicitors of 46 Queen Street, Melbourne wrote to Base Records on February 27, 1943 regarding the Estate of the late Florence May Leitch, deceased and were executors of the Will. The residue of her Estate was bequeathed to Mrs Nina Moore who was believed to be the wife of Benjamin Moore, as a member of the A.I.F. visited the deceased in Liverpool during the First World War. They were hoping to identify her husband and his last known address or that of Mrs Moore.
Base Records replied on March 3, 1943 that they had no record of next-of-kin for Benjamin Moore and Nina Moore, having served with the A.I.F. His mother’s name was given for identification and that he married overseas to Mary Ellen Honey (Widow) giving the address from their marriage extract. It was also mentioned that ‘Nina’ may not have been the correct Christian name. Their last known address for Benjamin was 75 Nelson Road, Rozelle.
REUNIONS
Benjamin Moore was an early member of the (Alphabet Company) Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company and Tunnellers’ Anzac Day Reunion and his name and address is listed in their Roll Register for newsletters of their annual function after the Anzac Day March in Sydney, NSW.
1928B. Moore94 Hubert Street, LeichhardtNotation: Letter returned
Two brothers also served.
PRIVATE WILLIAM MOORE
3882 – 23rd Battalion
William Moore was born in Wangaratta, Victoria in 1894 the son on Francis Ambrose and Mary Ann (nee Sexton) Moore. Military experience was gained with the 58th Infantry with twelve months service. He had been an apprentice to W.B. Garrett as a baker at Wangaratta, Vic for twelve months.
At the recruiting depot in Melbourne, Vic on July 7, 1916 the almost twenty-one year old applied to enlist for active service abroad. After passing the medical examination Forms of Attestation were completed which describe him as 161cms (5ft 3½ins) tall, weighing 57.2kgs (126lbs) with a chest expansion of 82-87cms (32-34ins). His complexion was clear, with blue eyes and brown hair with a distinctive mark of three vaccination scars on his left arm. Roman Catholic was his religious faith. Next-of-kin was his father Mr F.A. Moore of Perry Street, Wangaratta, Vic. He was sworn in the same day.
He was assigned to the 9th Reinforcement to the 23rd Battalion on January 12, 1916 and his rank was a Private with the regimental number 3882.
He embarked from Melbourne, Vic on February 8, 1916 on the transport A69 HMAT Warilda which terminated at the Suez. From Alexandria the troops departed on March 21, 1916 on the H.T. Orianna disembarking at Marseilles, France on March 27 and proceeded to join their unit and taken on strength on June 15, 1916.
In November, 1916 he suffered with Trench Feet being treated in the 5th Field Ambulance, 38th Clearing Station and 9th General Hospital at Rouen before evacuated to England on the hospital ship Asturias then admitted to the Cheltenham Hospital on November 15.
He was classified with debility B1a at Perham Downs in May, 1917 and again at Hurdcott camp on April 10 with B.1.43 debility. In May this was changed to A3 debility and returned to France and his unit on July 30, 1917.
Leave to the United Kingdom was granted in September, 1918. Several Crimes and Offences were dealt with by his superiors during his service.
He departed Devonport, England on May 29, 1919 on the transport Rio Negro arriving in Melbourne (3rd M.D.) on July 18, 1919.
Military Discharge was issued in Melbourne (3rd M.D.) on September 13, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment.
He returned to his parent’s home at 41 Pickett Street, Footscray, Vic with the occupation of baker.
Private 3882 William Moore, 23rd Battalion received for serving his country the British War Medal (34585) and the Victory Medal (34340). These were not collected and returned to Base Records on May 10, 1923 and a letter sent to the last known address care of his father. Both medals were collected at the Records Counter on February 14, 1928.
A Statement of Service was sent to the Sydney branch of the Repatriation Commission from Base Records on July 30, 1937.
SAPPER MAURICE FRANCIS MOORE
1754 – 2nd Pioneer Battalion
Maurice Francis Moore was born in Wangaratta, Victoria in 1896 the son of Francis Ambrose and Mary Ann Moore. He had been an apprentice baker with W.G. Garrett, Baker in Wangaratta for two years and nine months. Military experience had been gained through three years with the Senior Cadets and Citizen Forces for three years.
At the recruiting depot in Wangaratta, Vic on January 17, 1916 the nineteen year old baker applied to enlist for active service abroad. Passing the medical examination Attestation forms were completed with his description on enlistment being 159cms (5ft 2½ins) tall, weighing 51.8kgs (114lbs) with a chest expansion of 78-84cms (30½-33ins). Dark was his complexion with hazel eyes and brown hair. Church of England was his religious faith. Distinctive marks were moles on his left arm and back and a scar on his right knee and leg. Next-of-kin was his was his mother Mary Ann Moore of Perry Street, Wangaratta, Vic. He was sworn in on February 1, 1916.
Basic training began with the 37th Battalion until March 22, 1916 and had been re-examined ‘medically fit’ at Seymour camp, Vic on March 13. From there was assigned to the 2nd Reinforcements to the 2nd Pioneer Battalion at Broadmeadows camp, Melbourne.
The Reinforcements proceeded abroad from Melbourne, Vic on April 8, 1916 on the transport A60 HMAT Aeneas to the Suez. Their voyage continued from Alexandria on board H.T. Corsican on May 28 and reached Plymouth, England on June 11, 1916.
From the Training Battalion camp they proceeded to France on July 21, 1916 and he left to join his unit and was taken on strength with the 2nd Pioneer Battalion on September 30, 1916.
On June 1, 1916 he went sick with P.U.O (Pyrexia (fever) uncertain origin) progressing through the 5th Field Ambulance, 20th Casualty Clearing Station on to the 7th Stationary Hospital in Boulogne. He went to the rest camp to convalesce and rejoined his unit on July 13, 1917.
During September and October, 1918 he enjoyed leave to England. Disciplinary action was also administered during his service.
He left France on April 11, 1919 spending time at No. 2 Group camp at Sutton Veny before embarking for Australia on the H.T. Mahia on June 5, 1919. The vessel arrived on July 17, 1919 in Melbourne (3rd M.D.)
Military Discharge was issued in Melbourne (3rd M.D.) on August 31, 1919 on termination of his period of enlistment. He returned to reside at 41 Pickett Street, Footscray with the occupation of baker.
For service his country the British War Medal (40160) and the Victory Medal (39616) were issued to Sapper 1754 Maurice Francis Moore, 2nd Pioneer Battalion. These medals were not collected and returned to Base Records on May 10, 1923 and he was contacted by letter at his last known address. The medals were issued by registered post on December 18, 1923.
In 1933 while at Matong, N.S.W. he applied for another Discharge certificate and stated in declaration on October 11, 1933 that it was ‘by the loss of a wallet in which it was kept.’ A Statement of Service was issued On October 12, 1933 to him care of Narrandera Post Office as he requested.
Maurice wrote from Augathella, Qld on January 6, 1937 to Base Records requesting another duplicate Military Discharge and declared in his Statutory Declaration that ‘so far as I can remember it was burnt. About 4 years ago a statement of service I had just went to pieces.’ Another Statement of Service was issued on January 22, 1937.
A Statement of his Service was requested from Base Records by the Repatriation Commission in Brisbane, Qld and sent on December 8, 1954.
© Donna Baldey 2013