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Auction: 24002 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 158

A Great War D.C.M. group of four to Sergeant W. Moore, Worcestershire Regiment

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (12024 Sjt: W. Moore. 1/Worc: R.); 1914 Star with clasp (12024 L.Cpl W. Moore. 1/Worc: R.); British War and Victory Medals (12024 Sjt. W. Moore. Worc. R.) polished, toned good fine (4)

D.C.M. London Gazette 22 October 1917. The citation followed in early 1918:

'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During an attack, he went with an Officer 500 yds in advance of his position and captured and killed the occupants of an enemy stronghold, being exposed to heavy shell and machine gun fire the entire time. His personal courage and fearlessness greatly inspired his comrades.'

Walter Moore was born in Aldington, Evesham, Worcestershire on 26 December 1892, the son of Samuel Moore, he was one of five brothers. Educated locally, he enlisted into the Worcestershire Regiment in 1911 and by the time of the outbreak of the Great War, was based in Egypt with the 1st Battalion. Embarked for home on 30 September, they arrived at Liverpool on 16 October and entraining for Winchester the following day. Two weeks of training followed and then the Battalion, (part of the 8th Division), sailed for France on 5 November, arriving at Le Havre the next day, but being retained on ship for two days. Upon arrival in France, Moore had already been promoted Lance-Corporal. The 1st Battalion finally took up front line trenches facing Neuve Chapelle on 14 November and on the morning of the next day, in quite exposed positions, (the Trenches were very primitive at this time and not well constructed and were really not more than sunken depressions), with very little shelter, came under a heavy bombardment. The Battalion received its first casualties, (13 killed, 1 Officer and 26 ranks wounded).

The extreme cold also played a big part in the casualty listings - acclimatisation proved difficult, having moved from Egypt to northern France in deep winter and took its toll, with many suffering from severe frost bite. Remaining in this sector, the unit played a prominent part in the Battle of Neuve Chappelle, 10-13 March 1915. Their next major action was the Battle of Aubers Ridge on 9 May 1915.

The Regiment was engaged in the Battles of the Somme from July 1916, in particular the attack on Contalmaison, which began on 7 July and cost the Battalion 5 officers and 32 ranks killed, 8 officers and 213 ranks wounded, with a further 90 missing. The Battalion remained in the Somme sector until 1 June 1917, moving north to the Ypres sector.

On 13 June, they marched forward independently into the ruined city, where the companies found good quarters in the old barracks. They went up to the front line the next night. After dark the Platoons marched forward in succession through the Menin Gate and along the Menin Road to 'Hell-fire Corner', and then by covered ways to the front trenches astride the road at Hooge. The line taken over by the Battalion, from the 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, included the trenches in Sanctuary Wood immediately south of the road.

They held those trenches for four days under constant bombardment: for the obvious preparations for the offensive had roused the German artillery to continuous action. Relieved by the Scottish Rifles, the Companies were employed on working parties until 28 June, when the 24th Brigade again went into the line, with their HQ billetted at the Lille Gate and the Companies were separated in various billets in the ruined city. The enemy bombarded the city without a break. Twelve of the Battalion were killed or wounded by shell-fire within a week, and when on the night of 5 July they marched out of the city westwards to camp near Vlamertinghe the movement unfortunately coincided with a heavy 'strafe', with over forty killed or wounded.

On 26 July, they moved forward from their billets in Ypres to dugouts at "Halfway House." Thence on the next evening the Battalion moved up along the Menin Road to the line, and took over the trenches immediately south of the Road at Hooge. The British artillery had steadily increased their fire during the weeks preceding the attack, and in face of that fire the German front-line trenches had been almost evacuated. Patrols sent out by the 1st Worcestershire on the next two nights reported very few of the enemy in the trenches in front.

Moore, by now a Sergeant, was reported to have taken part in one of these patrols into the enemy trenches - The Badsey Parish Magazine, (Vol 22, No 9, September 1917) and the Evesham Journal of 25 August 1917:

'We have to congratulate Sergt Walter Moore, brother of Corpl Moore, on being awarded the Parchment Certificate for Gallant Conduct and Devotion to Duty. The certificate states: "He was one of the a patrol which entered the German lines near Hooge, east of Ypres, on the night of 27/28 July 1917. The patrol obtained valuable information, but was eventually discovered by the enemy who opened heavy machine gun and rifle fire. Sergt Moore showed great coolness and presence of mind and was of greatest assistance to the patrol commander in collecting and guiding the patrol back to our lines." Sergt Moore is accumulating honours quickly, for he has since been awarded the DCM for meritorious conduct in the subsequent advance on July 31. Mr and Mrs Moore have every reason to be proud of their sons, three of whom are serving in the Army and two in the Navy.'

Battle of Pilckem Ridge

During the night of 30-31 July, the British guns redoubled their fire, and as the first light of dawn broke the sky the gun-fire rose to intensity and along the whole front of the Salient the British infantry went 'over the top'. The great attack had begun.

Following close behind the creeping barrage,'C' and 'D' Companies of swept forward over the enemy's front and support lines. Little opposition was met. The organisation of the attack had been careful, and 'mopping up' parties dealt with the enemy dugouts in quick succession. The existence of a tunnel under the road, behind the enemy's lines, had long been known, and it had been anticipated that it would give much trouble; but in the event it was captured easily enough, and forty cowering prisoners were extracted.

The ground over which the Platoons advanced was a wilderness of shell-holes, and intermittent rain during the previous days had begun to soak the soil. At the German support trench ("Ignorance Support") the two leading companies called a halt and started to dig in, while 'A' and 'B' Companies, hitherto in second line, passed through, advanced through the tree stumps of Chateau Wood and captured James Trench. Then came the first definite opposition, a hail of machine-gun fire, and a heavy barrage of shells from the enemy guns. Fortunately the German shells fell upon Chateau Wood, behind the advancing companies; but the machine-guns were a serious problem. The objective of the two companies was a small spur which projects southward from the Bellewaerde Ridge. On the spur were several concrete block-houses. Several had been smashed by our shells, but one was still intact. From that cover the enemy used a machine-gun with great effect, and the advance was checked.

Lieutenant E. C. Barton led forward a small party, Sergeant W. Moore and nine men. Working their way from shell-hole to shell-hole they advanced some five hundred yards under heavy fire, closed in on the block-house and rushed it, killing or capturing all its garrison. Barton was awarded the M.C. and Moore took his D.C.M..

Further along the line the advance was held up by a light machine-gun firing from a shell-hole. Two Lewis-gunners, Lance-Corporal C. Richards and Private S. Fudger, brought their weapon into action. The German machine-gun ceased fire, but reopened as soon as the advance was resumed. The two Lewis-gunners promptly attacked. The Lance-Corporal shot down the German gun-team with his revolver and captured the machine-gun. Both won the D.C.M..

Those brave deeds enabled the advance to continue. The attacking platoons breasted the slope, crossed the sky line, and dug in on their objective, the forward crest of the spur, facing the Westhoek Ridge.

Then, according to the plan, the two supporting Battalions of the 24th Brigade were to come through and take the next objective. Tanks were to assist in that second phase, and soon the tanks were seen approaching, lumbering forward over the captured trenches; but the boggy ground rendered their movements slow and clumsy, most of them were "ditched" or broke down, and the only one which came past the Battalion was hit and destroyed by shell-fire.

The enemy's gun-fire increased. Under a rain of bursting shells the 2nd Battalion, East Lancashire advanced through their lines and pressed on to attack Westhoek. The fire was too fierce to permit of final success, and presently the East Lancashires, after losing heavily, were forced to halt and dig in short of their objective.

The reserve of the 8th Division, the 25th Brigade, came up in their turn. The 2nd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment passed forward through the lines, but the enemy's resistance had stiffened, and they suffered severely during their advance from machine-guns in Glencorse Wood. Both units consolidated a line which ran in a shallow semi-circle facing Westhoek.

On the right flank the position was exceedingly dangerous. The 30th Division had not succeeded in advancing beyond "Stirling Castle" and from the high ground about "Glencorse Wood," several machine-guns were firing. Those machine-guns could take the 8th Division front in enfilade, and counter-attacks were also threatened. To protect the right flank Colonel Davidge led forward two companies of the 1st Worcestershire. He formed them as a defensive flank facing Inverness Copse, with the object of linking the line of the 8th Division with that of the 30th Division at Stirling Castle. For his brilliant leadership on that occasion Colonel Davidge was awarded the D.S.O. His Adjutant, 2nd Lieutenant W. C. Stevens, was awarded the M.C..

Intense gun-fire continued throughout the day. The morning had been dull and cloudy. Towards the evening heavy rain came on and continued into the night, obscuring the view and soaking both the troops and the ground beneath them. Casualties were counted-well over 200, including 9 officers, and 157 other ranks. The Battalion had captured 70 prisoners as well as a machine-gun.

That night and the following day were miserable. Under pouring rain they held firm on the ground they had won, digging in as best they could, while the enemy's fire swept the ridge. Late in the day word came of relief, and presently the relieving Battalion came splashing their way up through the mud; and proved to be none other than the 3rd Battalion of the Regiment. The relief took some time, but eventually the 1st Battalion got clear and marched back down the Menin Road, while the 3rd Battalion settled down to take their places.

Attack at Pargny - March 1918

The first sign of the great German attack which reached the unit at Moringhem had been an urgent warning order on 21 March that all units of the 24th Brigade were to be ready to move at five hours notice. All arrangements for a rapid move had already been worked out, and when definite orders came that evening everything was ready. Next morning them marched to St. Omer and at midday entrained for the front.

The troop train carried the Battalion southwards to the Somme area. Night had fallen before the train reached Amiens; thence after a short delay the journey was continued eastwards to Nesle. The orders were for the 8th Division to take up a defensive position along the River Somme from Bethencourt to Brie. The information was sufficiently alarming. The Fifth Army was said to be in disorderly retreat: the strength and the nearness of the advancing enemy were alike unknown but distant firing could be heard.

Neither Divisional nor Brigade Headquarters had as yet arrived. The three Battalions of the 24th Brigade, were assembled by their respective commanders and marched northwards through the darkness to Epenancourt. Thence the three Battalions took up position as best they could in the darkness, the Worcestershire Regiment to the right as far as Pargny.

At dawn the troops entrenched as best they could on the slopes above the river. The eastern horizon was lit up by gun-flashes. Straggling troops and fleeing country-folk came herding back across the bridges, bringing reports of the enemy's advance. Orders came that the line of the river must be held at all costs.

During the morning of 23 March the troops dug themselves into cover along the river banks. Eastward the sound of gun-fire could already be heard, coming nearer and ever nearer. During the day some troops of the 23rd Brigade came up and prolonged the line to their right. The roads in front became congested with a confused rabble of retreating troops and country-folk.

Soon after midday the gun-fire sounded nearer, and bursting shrapnel gave warning that the enemy was at hand. To ensure the safe withdrawal of the retreating troops in front, Major (acting Lieut.-Colonel) F. C. Roberts led 'A' and 'B' Companies across the river and established a bridge-head position on the high ground east of Falvy.

About 1400hrs the retreating Battalions of the Fifth Army began to come through the line of the 24th Brigade. Mostly they were North-Country troops of the 50th Division, but other troops were intermingled. In spite of their long ordeal of fighting and marching they were still in good heart, but men and munitions alike were exhausted. Many were wounded and all were desperately weary. They stumbled through the protective line, and went on as best they could to reorganise in the open country behind.

Hard on the heels of the retreating troops followed the pursuing Germans. They closed in upon the rearguard of the 50th Division and would have cut them off had not Major Roberts' little force been at hand. The two Companies opened fire, checked the pursuit and enabled the rearguard to withdraw. Major Roberts held his ground until the last of the 50th Division had crossed the river. Then he withdrew his Platoons, evacuated Falvy, and blew up the river bridges. The bridges had previously been prepared for demolition. Actually, at Pargny the demolition, as we shall see, was not completely effective. The enemy vanguard followed slowly, and shots were exchanged across the river before darkness fell.

The night was unquiet, with intermittent gun-fire and constant sniping shots across the river. Numbering some five hundred fighting men in all were deployed in a line of small defensive posts from Pargny to north of Epenancourt. The front held was too wide to permit of any large reserve. About 2000hrs Major Roberts went along the line of posts from north to south. On reaching a small post some six hundred yards north of Pargny village he was told that the enemy had gained the village: that post had been shot at from the northernmost houses: the posts nearer to Pargny had ceased to fire and must have been destroyed.

Roberts realised at once that the Battalion supposed to be on his right flank must have gone back; realised also that the wrecked bridge at Pargny must still be passable, and that unless the village could be recaptured there was nothing to prevent the enemy from advancing in the darkness and rolling-up the Brigade from the right. He determined upon an immediate counter-attack.

In about twenty minutes Major Roberts had assembled all his available reserve, some 45 N.C.O's. and men. He led them by covered approaches to an assembly position west of the village and thence along the sunken lane to the cross-roads at the village's south-western exit. There, sheltering behind a broken-down cottage, he gave whispered orders.

Success depended on the moral effect of sudden surprise in the dark by a determined attack: the bulk of his little force would charge straight down the village street; two small flanking parties, ten men each under trusted N.C.O's., would work down the outer side of the houses to head off fugitives. At about 2100hrs all was ready.

'We started off,' wrote Major Roberts, 'with fixed bayonets and magazines loaded. For the first hundred yards or so we went in two parties in single file on each side of the main road, at the walk and as quietly as possible. The first sign I had of the enemy was some shouting from houses we were passing, and then both machine-gun and rifle-fire (very wild) from windows and doors,- with small parties dashing into the streets and clearing off in the direction of the bridge. Once this started we all went hell-for-leather up the street, firing at anything we saw and using the bayonet in many cases. Every man screamed and cheered as hard as he well could, and by the time we reached the Church the village was in an uproar-Bosches legging it hard for the bridge or else chucking their hands up. In the Churchyard itself the hardest fighting took place - tombstones being used as if in a game of' hide-and-seek.' After clearing it we had a few moments rest and then went smack through to the bridge, where a crowd of Bosche were trying to scramble across: some did and some didn't. That more or less ended it..., The two flank parties did extremely well as regards turning runaways into us, and increasing the general confusion; which as a matter of fact went far to helping us get the village. We actually captured six light machine-guns and fifteen to twenty prisoners, and killed about eighty Our own losses were heavy .'

The success of that swift counter-stroke must partly be attributed to good fortune, for it is clear that the German vanguard-weary, doubtless, after their long advance-had been lulled by the weakness of the previous opposition into neglect of all ordinary precautions; but the boldness of the scheme, the quickness of the plan and the reckless courage of the attack all make that little fight worthy to be remembered by the Regiment as an example of what can be achieved by pluck against odds. That brilliant counter-attack, together with his brave leading in the days which followed, earned for Major Roberts the Victoria Cross.

After the recapture of Pargny the front of the unit remained unchanged through-out the night; but dawn showed the situation to be serious. In front the enemy were massing in strength; away to the left the Sherwood Foresters were with difficulty holding back fierce onslaughts at St. Christ; on the right flank the 24th Division had retreated. The enemy had crossed the river at Bethencourt and were entering Morchain.

Major Roberts withdrew the right flank of his Battalion from Pargny and wheeled the companies back into position facing south-east on the heights behind Epenancourt. Thence they were able to sweep with fire the open slopes north of Morchain. For a time the enemy were checked; but the troops of the 24th Division further south continued to retreat. Before dusk the Germans had gained Dreslincourt and were close to Pertain.

All night long heavy fighting continued to the southward, and the sound of firing worked further round the right flank of the Battalion. At dawn it was clear that the outer flank was nearly encircled. Withdrawal was inevitable, and in the first light of 25 March, they fell back across the open through Licourt, and took up a new position along the railway embankment behind Marchelepot. The withdrawal was made in good order, the Companies retiring in succession, covering each other by fire.

In their new position the two Battalions were in touch with other troops on the right holding Omiecourt; but a gap was opened by the withdrawal between the left flank of the Northamptonshire Regiment and the right of the Sherwood Foresters. The Foresters had made a wonderful defence of the crossing at St. Christ. Even when thus isolated they continued to hold their ground for some time longer; but presently they fell back to the railway near Misery and rejoined the Brigade.

The position on the railway embankment was held until long after dark. Shortly before midnight came orders for another retirement: the 24th Brigade would withdraw to Ablaincourt. In the darkness the companies assembled and tramped back to the new position. Before dawn they were ensconced in a line of half-ruined trenches - the very trenches which the 61st Division had held in the spring of 1917.

The 24th Brigade was reorganised. Several additional battalions had come under the orders of the Brigade during the previous twenty-four hours. At dawn on 26 March the enemy came on in force against the new position but were beaten back by the fire of the defence. Further south, however, the line gave way and orders for the 8th Division to fall back once more, to a position at Rosieres. That village would be held by the 23rd Brigade with the 24th Brigade on their right.

To reach the new position the 24th Brigade had to move south-westward, a matter of difficulty since already the enemy's troops were in ruined Chaulnes on the right flank; nevertheless the withdrawal was successfully made by a devious route past Lihons, and by 1530hrs the new position had been taken up. The defensive line lay along the shallow valley which runs up towards Rosieres from the eastern outskirts of Meharicourt. Already some half-dug trenches marked the new line, and the 20th Entrenching Battalion, which had been digging those trenches, came into line on the right flank of the Brigade. The left flank of the Battalion was close to the Sugar Factory, which was held by a group of machine-gunners and other details. North of the Sugar Factory the line was continued by the 23rd Brigade under Colonel Grogan.

At dusk strong forces of the enemy could be seen advancing across the open country towards Meharicourt. During the night patrols of the enemy pushed forward, and firing was constant, while with desperate haste the entrenchments of the defence were deepened and strengthened. That night the weary troops were heartened by an order which came down the line that this new position must be held at all costs. "The Corps Commander," ran the words, "looks to all ranks to make one more supreme effort and maintain to the last the magnificent fighting qualities and endurance already displayed throughout the battle. Every man who is able to retire is equally able to use his rifle or bayonet and will therefore maintain his place in the line until relieved."

Battle of Rosieres

Dawn of 27 March showed dense waves of the enemy pouring forward over the open slope beyond Meharicourt. All along the line guns and rifles opened fire, and under the rain of shells and bullets the first and second waves of the enemy dwindled and came to a halt; but a third wave carried forward their survivors and surged up against the British trenches. The rapid fire of the Worcestershire and the Northamptonshire withered the attack on their front, but on the right the half-trained Entrenching Battalion gave way, and the Durhams also were forced back. A critical situation was saved by the Sherwood Foresters, who came up from the rear and by a brilliant counterattack re-established the line. The Germans fell back behind the road which runs from Rosieres to Meharicourt, leaving the open slope west of the road strewn thick with their dead.

After that repulse the enemy made no further attempt to storm the trenches of the 24th Brigade, but heavy firing continued throughout the day across the little valley. Captain G. A. Sheppard was wounded, and the Commanding Officer, Major (acting Lieut.-Colonel) F. C. Roberts was also hit. When Major Roberts was compelled to go back to hospital the Adjutant, Captain W. C. Stevens was left in command. On the left the 23rd Brigade, after very heavy fighting around Rosieres Station, had also held their line. For his gallant conduct on this day gained Colonel Grogan, then commanding the 23rd Brigade, a Bar to his D.S.O. The 8th Division had everywhere stood firm, but to north and south the position was not so satisfactory. On the south the enemy had gained some ground, but far more serious was the situation on the northern flank. The right flank of the British Third Army, north of the River Somme had swung back a long way further than the left flank of the Fifth Army south of that River, and the enemy, working up the line of the river, were already beginning to envelop the left flank of the Fifth Army's position.

As a result, orders were issued for a fresh retirement, to a line facing north-eastward along the southern bank o.f the River de Luce which runs through Vrely and Caix. That latter village was already occupied by a French battalion, and the 24th Brigade fell back into line with the French troops in the early hours of 28 March. On their right the 17th Brigade held Vrely. Vrely, however, now formed a sharp salient, and about midday a strong enemy attack broke through the line at that point and overwhelmed the defenders. The 24th Brigade narrowly escaped being surrounded, but after severe fighting the Brigade succeeded in wheeling back into a new position running due south from Caix. There was a good line of old trenches, well wired, and the dogged survivors of the Brigade prepared to make a desperate resistance; but, before any strong enemy attack developed, orders came to retreat again, this time right back into reserve. French troops had come up in sufficient numbers to allow some rest to the exhausted British battalions. A new line was being established through Mezifores and Demuin. That position was held by the 20th Division, with French troops on its right flank. Behind that line the 8th Division would reorganise.

That final retirement began, falling back by alternate Companies, the Battalions of the 24th Brigade eventually shook off their pursuers, passed through the outpost line of the French near Mezieres and reached Moreuil in the beautiful wooded valley of the River Avre. After a short rest the march was continued across the river to Rouvrel to find billets.

During the incessant and prolonged fighting between 23-28 March, Moore was taken prisoner and initially thought wounded. The following exerts from The Badsey Parish Magazine provided a slow release of new information:

'Mrs Moore, of Aldington, has heard that her son, Sergt W Moore, DCM, is wounded and a prisoner. The information was conveyed in a letter from the Chaplain, who adds: "As far as I can make out, his wound was not too serious …. We shall greatly miss him as he was a great soldier and did excellent work with the Battalion." Nothing further has been heard of Sergt Moore, probably owing to the fact that he is wounded...

We are very sorry to learn that Sergt W Moore (brother of Pte A E Moore), DCM, who was reported wounded and a prisoner, has now been posted as missing from some date "between Mar 23rd and 28th". We trust that reassuring news of him may soon be received....
A postcard has been received from Sergt W Moore, DCM, dated May 25, stating that he is a prisoner in Germany and unwounded.'

Moore returned home after the conclusion of the Great War.



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