John Wheeler Moore

Pte. John. W. Moore Worksop Guardian 14 July 1916 To the list of local men who have made the great sacrifice must be added the names of others who have laid down their lives in France. Amongst them is 4286 Pte. John Wheeler Moore, 71, Marecroft, Worksop. Pte. Moore who was married, was 23 years of age last Christmas. He joined the Army in September 1915, and was drafted to France on March 3rd. His wife last heard from him on June 29th, the letter being written two days before he was killed. Previous to the outbreak of war he was a boatman, in which capacity he was well known both at Worksop and Retford. In the letter to Mrs. Moore, the Chaplain says:- “Dear Mrs. Moore,-I wish to prepare you for the very heavy and sad news that will come to you later as an official notice. Your dear husband, 4286 Pte. J. W. Moore was wounded very heavily on the early morning of Saturday, the 24th of this month, and died in a few moments. May God soften this blow to you? You will know that he suffered no pain, and probably was unconscious that he had been hit. During the same evening, to the sound of the guns which were like a funeral toll to him, he was laid to rest in a British Cemetery at this place. You would like to know that the cross bearing his name has already been placed over his grave. The Colonel has asked me to say how deeply and sincerely he feels for you in this very sad blow. Your husband was a good and brave man, and was likes and respected by officers and men alike. The Regiment has lost a good soldier and a brave man. May God comfort and strengthen you in your sorrow-it is very sad and heavy blow that you have to bear. But you know that God welcomes brave men and gives them the rest and peace that He alone can give. He has done all that a man who is a man can do, he laid down his life in the service of his Country and now sleeps in peace, after all the turmoil and trouble of this war. I am, etc.”

Buried at Foncquevillers Militery Cemetery, France. Research by Colin Dannatt