The Memorial Plaque to Captain B. J. W. M. Moore, M.C., 1 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, an extremely skilful and aggressive Nieuport single-seater fighter pilot who was involved in a countless number of ‘dog-fights’ - frequently let down by weather conditions and equipment, his confirmed score of at least 1 enemy aircraft and 2 kite balloons shot down, not reflecting the amount of enemy aircraft actually damaged by his close contact flying. Moore was awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry in operations immediately prior to the July 1916 Somme land offensive, and was killed in a flying accident whilst stationed as an instructor at the School of Special Flying, Gosport, on 10 June 1917

Memorial Plaque (Beaufoi John Warwick Montressor Moore) nearly extremely fine £300-£400

M.C. London Gazette 27 July 1916:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and skill. He has destroyed two enemy kite balloons, one of which was being guarded by an enemy aeroplane. He has repeatedly attacked hostile aircraft, on one occasion attacking a flight of four, all of which he drove down, and two of which he followed to 2,000 feet, one being apparently hard hit.’

Beaufoi John Warwick Montressor Moore was born in London in January 1885, and was the son of Mr B. Moore, of 27 Langham Street, London, a barrister whose chambers were at 4 Pump Court, Temple. He was educated privately, and later at King’s College London and the Polytechnic School of Engineering, London. After ‘completing his apprenticeship as an Electrical Engineer (Associate Member of the Institute of Electrical Engineers, 1912), he was employed as Chief Draughtsman by his grandfather’s firm, J C Fuller & Company of London. Over the next few years, he travelled to Egypt and to Canada for his firm, and was in Winnipeg, Canada, shortly before war broke out in 1914. Returning to England, he tried to get a commission via the London University OTC, but was refused entry on medical grounds. Undeterred, he travelled to Avonmouth to enlist in the RFC. His technical abilities apparent, he was immediately promoted to 1st Class Mechanic. Next, he qualified for his ‘ticket’, gaining the Royal Aero Certificate (Number 931) at his own expense, on 10 October 1914. He was accepted as a Cadet in February 1915 and was eventually gazetted Second Lieutenant to the RFC, via the Special Reserve, on 23 August following. After completing his formal pilot training at the CFS and elsewhere, he was confirmed and gazetted Flying Officer on 28 October 1915.’ (The Military Cross to Flying Personnel of Great Britain and the Empire 1914-19, by H. Giblin and N. Franks, refers)

Moore was posted for operational flying with 1 Squadron (Nieuport 17’s - single seater fighters) then at Bailleul, France, in February 1916. The following is provided by Moore’s Combat Report for 28 April 1916:

‘The Nieuport Scout [Moore as pilot] was flying due North over Houlthurst Forest at about 12,000 feet when a hostile machine was seen about 3,000 feet below, heading towards the British lines. The Nieuport nose dived down on to the hostile machine and flattened out just under its tail and opened fire. The H.A. immediately dived and turned at right angles but the Nieuport was manoeuvred so as to come under its tail again when another burst was fired. The distance between the machines varied from 50 to 70 yards. The Tracer Bullets appeared to enter the fuselage of the hostile machine but while changing a drum the hostile machine was lost partly owing to the thick haze and sun and owing to the way it was diving down...’

The summer of 1916 was to prove busy for Moore, with him being involved in a similar combat on 17 June 1916 (when the Combat Report gives that ‘Ground observers state that German machine appeared to be in difficulties after our machine left it’) and on 22 June 1916, ‘2nd Lieutenant Moore, 1 Squadron, in a Nieuport Scout, had four engagements between 9 and 11am while on patrol between Messines and Hollebeke. On each occasion the hostile machine was driven off.’ (Royal Flying Corps Communique No. 40, refers)

On 25 June 1916 fighter units of the R.F.C. had been detailed for an all-out assault on the chain of German observation kite balloons positioned just behind the German trenches, in preparation for the Somme Offensive. The final stages for the impending land offensive along the Somme front meant that these ‘eyes’ for the German artillery had to be put out if there was to be any hope of surprise for the Allied build-up in strength in the forward zones. In all, 23 kit balloons were earmarked for destruction, of which 15 were actually attacked by R.F.C. scouts. A total of 7 kite balloons were destroyed over 25-26 June, 2 of which were by Moore (see M.C.), and 1 was shot down by Albert Ball, V.C. (11 Squadron) - the latter recording the events of that week in his letters, and also being recorded in the Royal Flying Corps Communique No. 40.

Moore attacked another kite balloon on 3 July 1916, only to be on the receiving end of the German defensive measures set up to defend it:

‘The Nieuport turned away, and immediately streams of fire balls were projected up at the machine from the ground, fanwise, 3 different sets being observed. Each set appeared to consist of about one hundred jets possibly a yard apart. One set of jets passed immediately beneath the Nieuport at the top of flat part of its trajectory moving at a great speed....’ (Combat Report refers)

Moore went on the attack again, and fired tracers into the fuselage of an Albatross on 28 July 1916, before the following took place on 8 August 1916:

‘On the 2nd Army front 14 hostile aircraft were seen, and there were five combats.

2nd Lieutenant Moore on a Nieuport of 1 Squadron, from 17,000 ft. observed an Albatross circling between Armentiers and Lille. He waited until it had made two circuits and then dived and attacked it from behind and below. A long shaft of flame burst from the hostile machine, and the Nieuport had to turn quickly to avoid the flame, the heat of which was felt by the pilot. The machine fell and hit the ground near Frelinghem, one of the occupants having already fallen out. The other four combats were indecisive.’ (Royal Flying Corps Communique No. 47, refers)

The Combat Report for the above adds that ‘the machine was watched the whole way down, and flames and smoke continued to come from it. It hit the ground near Frelinghem and a huge burst of flame denoted the moment when it hit the ground...’

Moore advanced to Temporary Captain and Flight Commander at the end of September 1916. He was posted to the School of Special Flying, Grange Airfield, Gosport in 1917, having been invested with the M.C. by H.M. the King at Buckingham Palace on 14 February 1917. Sadly, Captain Moore was killed in a flying accident on 10 June 1917, ‘while flying a dual control machine… The exact cause of the which has not yet been ascertained. The machine nose-dived to earth and the two officers were thrown out, Captain Moore being killed and Captain Heard severely injured. At the inquest held on Monday afternoon on Captain Moore, it was stated that the deceased was 33 years of age. He was an experienced pilot, having been flying for about two years…. Captain Heard, who had also had experience as an aeronaut, was undergoing a course of instruction for duty as an instructor.

It was stated by an officer (who was an expert), that the machine was probably not more than 60ft. up at the time of the accident. Had it been higher it was probable the pilot would have been able to right it; as it was he could not do so. A medical officer, who arrived on the scene just after the accident, stated that on its fall the machine was on fire and smashed. Captain Moore was lying beside it, quite dead, but Captain Heard, who was lying some distance away, was conscious. He said that he and Captain Moore were discussing some detail, when something happened, and the next thing was that he found himself on the grass. He was now suffering from a certain amount of shock, but would recover. Captain Heard could give no more information as to the cause of the accident, said that witness but his opinion was that there was nothing wrong with the engine. Captain Moore, who had sustained terrible injuries, probably died instantaneously from the rupture of internal organs. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned, and the Coroner and jury expressed sympathy with the relatives.’ (WO 339/54749 refers)

Captain Moore is buried in Gosport (Ann’s Hill) Cemetery, Hampshire.

Sold with a large file of copied research, Combat Reports etc, including photographic image of recipient in uniform.