Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A scarce Great War 1916 ‘East Africa’ D.C.M. awarded to Sergeant T. S. Moore, 7th South African Infantry, an Australian by birth, who had served with the Bushmen and the Bechuanaland Rifles during the Boer War

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (5549 Sjt: T. S. Moore. 7/S. Afr: Inf:) good very fine £800-1000

D.C.M. London Gazette 20 October 1916:

‘For conspicuous gallantry. He went out under heavy fire and carried a wounded man into a place of safety.’

M.I.D. London Gazette 8 February 1917.

Thomas Sydney Moore was born in New South Wales, Australia, in 1872, and served ‘Australia Bushman 12 yrs 8 mth, Bech Rifles, Boer War, Pretoria Regiment, 1 year, S.W. Africa’ (service papers refer). A farmer by occupation, Moore attested for the 12th South African Infantry in August 1914, and served with them in German West Africa. He was discharged 19 August 1915, before re-attesting for service with the 7th South African Infantry in November 1916.

Moore was promoted Sergeant in December 1915, and embarked for German East Africa in the S.S. Professor Woermann, 22 January 1916. He was awarded the D.C.M., and M.I.D. for meritorious service, whilst serving in that theatre of operations under General Smuts.

After a period in Durban, Moore returned to East Africa in June 1917, but contracted Malaria the following month. He was attached as a Machine Gunner to the Gold Coast Regiment, from October 1917. Moore contracted Malaria once again in 1918, and returned to Durban in December 1918. He was discharged, 16 April 1919, and in 1920 was re-admitted to hospital suffering from ‘Post Bellum Debility’. He was later discharged as ‘Demented’.

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