1863448 Warrant Officer Class 2 G.A. Moore, Royal Engineers

Unless otherwise noted, the details supplied in this narrative were extracted from various issues of The Sapper, The Regimental Journal of the Corps of Royal Engineers. Since WO2 Moore served during the period following the Great War of 1914-1918, his service papers are still held by the Ministry of Defence. Access to these papers cannot be obtained without next of kin approval. As the author has not been able to locate any of Moore’s next of kin as of the writing of this narrative, the information presented herein is lacking in much detail. Research into Moore’s service life will continue with the hope that additional details will be obtained, especially with regard to his early years with the Corps and his World War 2 service.

Based on his Army Number, it appears that Moore enlisted as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers in 1923. Immediately following the approval of his enlistment he would have been sent to Brompton Barracks at Chatham, Kent to receive his basic training as an engineer soldier.

No information has been uncovered to date regarding Sapper Moore’s service between 1923 and 1931 except for his promotions to Lance Corporal and Corporal. In October of 1931 he was posted to the Army Technical School (Boys) at Beachley Camp in Chepstow, Gwent, Wales. The following individuals occupied key positions at the Army Technical School at the time that Corporal Moore served there:

The Army Technical School was located on the Beachley peninsula between the River Severn and the River Wye. Its mission was to provide training for Apprentice Tradesmen (A/T’s) between the ages of 15 and 18 who would then serve in the Royal Engineers, Royal Army Ordnance Corps or Royal Army Service Corps [1]. During the period that Corporal Moore was serving at Chepstow, the Royal Engineers School of Electric Lighting at Gosport was closed. On the 26^th of August 1932 four non-commissioned officers and 94 Apprentice Tradesmen were posted from Gosport to Chepstow.

Corporal Moore was posted to Chatham in January 1933 where his unit of assignment is not known. He remained at Chatham for almost three years and was promoted to the rank of Lance Sergeant while serving there.

Lance Sergeant Moore was transferred to the 24^th (Fortress) Company, Royal Engineers on the island of Malta in December of 1935. The Officer Commanding the 24^th Company at that time was Major A.B.D. Edwards, M.C., R.E. Major Edwards arrived on Malta on the same ship as Moore and took over the company from Captain R.H.B. Longland who was on leave at the time. The Royal Engineers troop organization on Malta in 1935 consisted of two fortress companies, the 16^thand the 24^th, organized into the Fortress Royal Engineers Malta under the command of Major J.S.W. Stone, M.C., R.E. The Adjutant Fortress R.E. Malta was Captain J.W.N. Landor, R.E. Headquarters Fortress R.E. Malta and the 24^th Company were located in the new barracks at Floriana. The 16^th Company was located at Marsamuscetto Barracks and was commanded by Major A.C. Baillie, M.C., R.E. [2].

The mission of the fortress companies on Malta was to provided searchlight support and engineer works in defence of the ports and harbors on the island. Moore was promoted to the rank of Sergeant while serving with the 24^th Company. Specific mention of him may be found in the May 1936 issue of The Sapper indicating that he played football on the company Sergeant’s team. He is referred to under "Station News" in the magazine by the nickname "Poney" Moore. He played on the Sergeant’s team against the officers of the company and is shown in a photograph of the post-game activities. Although he is barely visible in the photograph he appears to have been a man of medium height and build, with fine features, dark hair and a dark complexion.

Sergeant Moore may have remained with the 24^th Company on Malta during part or all of the Second World War. In addition to their normal duties in a fortress company, the men of the 24^th Company also performed bomb disposal duties during the war [3].

In 1941 Moore became eligible to receive the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal with bar [REGULAR ARMY] upon completion of 18 years of service with the Colours [4]. This medal is named to him as a Warrant Officer Class 2, so obviously he was promoted to this rank during or prior to 1941. No further information concerning Moore or his service during World War 2 has yet been uncovered except that he is not listed as a prisoner of war of the Germans [5] nor was he killed in action [6].

Date of Promotion or Appointment	Rank or Position
1923	Sapper (upon enlistment)
1 September 1926	Promoted Lance Corporal
31 August 1929	Promoted Corporal
10 November 1933	Promoted Lance Sergeant
21 February 1936	Appointed Temporary Sergeant
4 July 1936	Promoted Sergeant
Date Unknown	Promoted Staff Sergeant
Date Unknown	Promoted Warrant Officer Class 2

INSTITUTION OF ROYAL ENGINEERS. The History of the Corps of Royal Engineers. Volume VII. The Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent, 1952.

1. MIFSUD, A. Dealing with Unexploded Bombs. Malta at War, Number 9, St. Julian’s, Malta, 2001.

2. The Royal Engineers Quarterly List, October 1935. The Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent.

[5] A check was made of the volume entitled Prisoners of War: Armies and Other Land Forces of the British Army, 1939-1945 published by the Imperial War Museum in 1990. Moore’s name does not appear in the book.