British War Medal 1914-18

Obverse: Head of King George V (left). Legend: 'GEORGIVS V BRITT : OMN : REX ET IND : IMP:' Reverse: A Knight on horseback (right) a short sword in his right hand, trampling on the German shield, skull and cross-bones. Legend: '1914-18'. Inscription on edge: "LIEUT. H.A. MOORE. R.N.R." Fitted with a bar and orange watered silk ribbon edged with blue, black and white stripes. Mounted on a bar with nine other medals.

Captain Harry Allinson Moore (1885-1971) OBE, RNR was born in Birkenhead. He obtained his mate's certificate in Liverpool in 1906 and his master's certificate in the same port in 1908. He married Violet Waterman in West Derby, Lancashire in 1910 and the couple subsequently moved to the South of England. From 1913, he joined the RNR. During World War I he served from 1914 to 1915 in torpedo gunboat HMS 'Halcyon' and HMS 'Leander' before demobilisation. He retired from the RNR with the rank of Captain on 23 August 1935. Between the wars he worked for the Canadian Pacific Line as master from 1933. In 1940, in 'The Duchess of Empress of Australia' (now a troopship) and in 1941 'Duchess of Bedford'. After the troopship 'Duchess of Atholl' was torpedoed and sunk by 'U178' on 3 October 1942, Moore, her master, successfully organised the abandonment of the ship and the rescue of 821 survivors with only four casualties. An emergency wireless set in one of the lifeboats successfully made contact with a wireless station on Ascension Island and a rescue vessel was able to track the signals. Moore was awarded the OBE for his actions.

Moore retired from the sea in 1953.

Object Details

ID: MED1271
Collection: Coins and medals
Type: War medal
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Mackennal, Edgar Bertram; McMillan, William
Events: World War I, 1914-1918
Date made: 1919
People: Moore, Harry Allinson; King George V
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 36 mm