Sergeant Herbert Henry Moore Royal Engineers
Defence Medal. War Medal 1939-45. Imperial Service Medal. Efficiency Medal 'Territorial' and two clasps.
The Man Herbert Henry Moore as born on 26th February 1903 in Plymouth, son of Alfred a General Labourer and Agnes Sylvia nee Tout. He was one of 10 children, Sylvia M born in 1900, Alfred T 1900, who died very young, Ellen Mary born in 1904, Ada Lilian 1905, Winifred Ivy 1907, Alice Gwendoline 1908, Dorothy Melita 1909, Thomas Henry 1913 – died in 1917, Irene Rose 1916.
In 1911 the family were living in 6 Bates Buildings, Palace Street, Plymouth and Herbert, too young to serve in World War I. In 1921 the family were at 3 Abbey Place, Plymouth and Herbert now aged 18 working as a Building Merchant Material Labourer.
During the early 1920s Herbert enlisted into Territorial Army, Royal Engineers and in 1925 aged 22 married Lillian Louisa Hill in Plymouth and they had two children, Bert Henry born in 1926 – 2001 and Rodney A 1928, there may have been a third June L born in 1931, they lived in Abbey Place.
The marriage did not begin well, as 18 months later in September 1926, following an argument Herbert walked out on Lillian and refused to pay maintenance. She took him to court and maintenance was sought, but not a separation as it was hoped they would reconcile once they had ‘recovered their temper’, which they seemingly did.
Herbert was promoted to Corporal, allocated a new service number 2206280 and in Army Order 33 of 1937, awarded his Geo V Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’. The 1939 Register shows Herbert, reconciled with Lillian, living at 33 Clarence Street, his occupation is given as Acetylene Cutter or Burner, most likely at the Plymouth Naval Base and he is also shown as being a Sergeant in the Devon and Cornwall Fortress Royal Engineers. The Devonshire Fortress was a volunteer unit of the RE and who helped defend the vital naval where Herbert worked.
At the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, Herbert was called up and served at home during World War II, most likely at the Plymouth Naval Base. For his service he was awarded the Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and in Army Order 160 of 30th September 1945 the first and second clasps to his Efficiency Medal.
Following the War Herbert returned to working as a welder at Devonport and in 1963 aged 60 retired and awarded his Imperial Service Medal, this appearing in the London Gazette of 27th August 1963.
In later life they lived at 113 Downfield Drive, Plymouth and Lillian passed away on 16th October 1978, Herbert five years later in the last quarter of 1983 aged 80 in Southwark, his death register however, showing his date of birth as 26th February 1904.
In 1911 the family were living in 6 Bates Buildings, Palace Street, Plymouth and Herbert, too young to serve in World War I. In 1921 the family were at 3 Abbey Place, Plymouth and Herbert now aged 18 working as a Building Merchant Material Labourer.
During the early 1920s Herbert enlisted into Territorial Army, Royal Engineers and in 1925 aged 22 married Lillian Louisa Hill in Plymouth and they had two children, Bert Henry born in 1926 – 2001 and Rodney A 1928, there may have been a third June L born in 1931, they lived in Abbey Place.
The marriage did not begin well, as 18 months later in September 1926, following an argument Herbert walked out on Lillian and refused to pay maintenance. She took him to court and maintenance was sought, but not a separation as it was hoped they would reconcile once they had ‘recovered their temper’, which they seemingly did.
Herbert was promoted to Corporal, allocated a new service number 2206280 and in Army Order 33 of 1937, awarded his Geo V Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’. The 1939 Register shows Herbert, reconciled with Lillian, living at 33 Clarence Street, his occupation is given as Acetylene Cutter or Burner, most likely at the Plymouth Naval Base and he is also shown as being a Sergeant in the Devon and Cornwall Fortress Royal Engineers. The Devonshire Fortress was a volunteer unit of the RE and who helped defend the vital naval where Herbert worked.
At the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, Herbert was called up and served at home during World War II, most likely at the Plymouth Naval Base. For his service he was awarded the Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and in Army Order 160 of 30th September 1945 the first and second clasps to his Efficiency Medal.
Following the War Herbert returned to working as a welder at Devonport and in 1963 aged 60 retired and awarded his Imperial Service Medal, this appearing in the London Gazette of 27th August 1963.
In later life they lived at 113 Downfield Drive, Plymouth and Lillian passed away on 16th October 1978, Herbert five years later in the last quarter of 1983 aged 80 in Southwark, his death register however, showing his date of birth as 26th February 1904.
The Story The medals awarded to Herbert Henry Moore were acquired from Jonathan Collins Medals in November 2025. They were of interest because of the double clasped Efficiency Medal together with the Imperial Service Medal combination.
Ancestry and the Newspaper Achives enabled a brief biography to be pieced together, with the 1939 Register pleasingly showing his membership of the TA and matching service number, thus revealing his date of birth.
Ancestry and the Newspaper Achives enabled a brief biography to be pieced together, with the 1939 Register pleasingly showing his membership of the TA and matching service number, thus revealing his date of birth.
Western Morning News. 10th September 1926.
Medal Details:
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Imperial Service Medal: HERBERT HENRY MOORE
- Efficiency Medal: 2206289 CPL. H.H.MOORE. R.E.
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