Canada. A Grouping to Private Moore, 144th Infantry Battalion, 44th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Labour Battalion, KIA

Identification Tag (in bakelite, octagonal-shaped, stamped "830571 / MOORE J F / 3 LAB BATT / P / CANADIANS", measuring 38.2 mm (w) x 32.5 mm (h), die-holes on either side); Ribbon Bar (British War Medal and Victory Medal (measuring 69.5 mm (w) x 10.5 mm (h), dual screwbacks); Royal Canadian Artillery Cap Badge (in bronze gilt, measuring 68.2 mm (w) x 49.7 mm (h), both lugs intact but bent back); two Exploding Grenade Collar Insignia (in bronze gilt, measuring 16.5 mm (w) x 30.5 mm (h) and 18.5 mm (w) x 32.5 mm (h), both with intact lugs but bent back); Royal Canadian Artillery Shoulder Title (in white metal, measuring 36.3 mm (w) x 14.3 mm (h), both lugs intact but bent back); two Canada General Service Shoulder Titles (in bronze, measuring 38.5 mm (w) x 10 mm (h) and 48.3 mm (w) x 10.2 mm (h), both with intact lugs but bent back); General Service Pocket Watch (chrome-plated brass, magnetic, non-functional, the black face has bold numerals in white, with the 3, 9 and 12 positions in a luminescent paint, a ring above marked with black rules in intervals of sixty minutes, the hour and minute hands in silvered metal, with luminescent paint on the hour hand, the six position is obscured by the inset second hand clock with a silvered metal secondhand, marked "SWISS MADE" and covered by an acrylic crystal, reverse exterior cover is marked with the British Broad Arrow acceptance mark and marked "G.S.T.P." (General Service Time Piece), reeded brass ball finial stem, measuring 52 mm (w) x 65.5 mm (h), crack in the acrylic crystal); and a Photograph of Private Moore in an Artillery Uniform (black and white, sepia-toned look, measuring 116 mm (w) x 165 mm (h), card-mounted). Very fine.

Footnote: James Fraser Moore was born on July 1, 1873 in Montrose, Forfarshire, Scotland. He later immigrated to Canada with his wife, Jessie and his son, Robert. He was a resident of Winnipeg, Manitoba when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (830571) with the 144th Infantry Battalion "Winnipeg Rifles", on January 3, 1916 in Winnipeg, at the age of 42, naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Mrs. Jessie Moore of Winnipeg, stating that he had five years' previous military service with the 1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, that he was Married, that his religion was Presbyterian and that his trade was that of Boilermaker. During his medical examination, the doctor noted that he had tattoo marks on both arms. His son, Robert Moore, had previously enlisted for service six months earlier with the 78th Infantry Battalion "Winnipeg Grenadiers", on July 4, 1915. Two days after enlisting, Private James Fraser Moore was admitted to Winnipeg General Hospital on January 5, 1916, where he was diagnosed with "V.D.G." (venereal disease, gonorrhea) and after three days' treatment, was discharged from hospital on the 8th. The 144th Infantry Battalion was raised and mobilized in Winnipeg, Manitoba under the authority of G.O. 151, December 22, 1915. The Battalion sailed September 19, 1916 from Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the S.S. Olympic under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel A.W. Morley with a strength of 29 officers and 962 other ranks, arriving in Liverpool, England on the 25th.

In his Proceedings of a Medical Board report, dated November 11, 1916 at Seaford Camp, Sussex, the doctor examining Private Moore discovered that his patient had "varicose veins" (are gnarled, enlarged veins - any vein may become varicose, but the veins most commonly affected are those in your legs and feet, as standing and walking upright increases the pressure in the veins of one's lower body) and that his stated his age of "42" was incorrect, that Moore was overage, his actual age being "44". Three days later, Private Moore was posted to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre and attached to the 18th Reserve Battalion on November 14th. Early in the new year, the 144th Infantry Battalion was absorbed into the 18th Reserve Battalion at Seaford on January 12, 1917. After having received additional training in England, Private Moore was transferred to the 44th Infantry Battalion for service in the French theatre, arriving in France on April 25, 1917, joining them shortly thereafter. Eighteen days after arriving in France, he was attached to the Canadian Corps Composite Company, for men deemed unfit for action at the front, on May 13, 1917. However, four months would pass before he would leave for the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp on September 16, 1917, arriving on the 18th. He left for his new unit, the 3rd Labour Battalion, in the field on October 30th, arriving with them on November 1st. Two weeks later, 830571 Private James Fraser Moore was serving with the 3rd Labour Battalion when he was killed by shell fire on November 15, 1917, while at work digging a new support line east of Ypres, at the age of 44.

He is remembered with honour on the Menin Gate (Ypres) Memorial, Belgium, Grave Reference: Panel 26-28. The Menin Gate Memorial is situated at the eastern side of the town of Ypres (now Ieper) in the Province of West Flanders, on the road to Menin and Courtrai. It bears the names of 55,000 men who were lost without trace during the defence of the Ypres Salient in the First World War. He is also commemorated on page 296 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. Private Moore was posthumously awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. The medals, along with his Memorial Plaque and Scroll, and his Memorial Cross were forwarded to his widow, Jessie Moore, between 1920 and 1922. In his Will, dated March 12, 1917, he stated that "I bequeath my personal estate unto my wife". She also received a War Service Gratuity of $100. Their son, Private Robert Moore was born on December 18, 1895 in Montrose, Forfarshire, Scotland. He was a resident of Winnipeg when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (147566) with the 78th Infantry Battalion "Winnipeg Grenadiers", on July 4, 1915 in Winnipeg, at the age of 19, naming his next-of-kin as his father, James Moore of Winnipeg, stating that he had previous military service with the 100th Winnipeg Grenadiers, that he was not married, that his religion was Church of England and that his trade was that of Printer with Grain Trade Press. The 78th Infantry Battalion was raised and mobilized in Winnipeg, Manitoba under the authority of G.O. 103A, August 15, 1915. The Battalion sailed May 20, 1916 from Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the S.S. Empress of Britain under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel J. Kirkcaldy with a strength of 37 officers and 1,097 other ranks, arriving in Liverpool, England on the 30th. A little over ten weeks later and having received additional training in England, he went overseas for service in the French theatre, arriving in France on August 12, 1916.

He was a Signaller with the 78th Infantry Battalion when he suffered multiple shrapnel wounds on October 30, 1917. He was initially treated at No. 8 Canadian Field Ambulance, before being transferred to No. 44 Casualty Clearing Station at Poperinghe, Belgium. 147566 Private Robert Moore, 78th Infantry Battalion died from his wounds at No. 44 Casualty Clearing Station on November 1, 1917, at the age of 21. He is buried in Nine Elms British Cemetery, Belgium, Grave Reference: VIII. F. 12. and is commemorated on page 296 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. The medals, along with his Memorial Cross were forwarded to his mother, while his father was scheduled to receive his Memorial Plaque and Scroll, which were accepted by his mother on behalf of her deceased husband. All items were forwarded between 1920 and 1922. In his Military Will, dated August 9, 1916, he stated that "In the event of my death, I give the whole of my property and effects to my mother, Mrs. Jessie Moore, 88 Grace St., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada".