Archibald Gordon Henry Wilson Moore

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Admiral Sir Gordon Moore, seen as a Rear-Admiral.
Photo: Library of Congress.

Admiral SIR Archibald Gordon Henry Wilson Moore, K.C.B., C.V.O., Royal Navy (2 February, 1862 – 2 April, 1934) was an officer of the Royal Navy, chiefly known for his part in the Battle of Dogger Bank in 1915.

Early Life & Career

Archibald Gordon Henry Wilson Moore was born in Westminster on 2 February, 1862, the son of John Wilson Moore and Nina Moore. He entered the Royal Navy through the training ship Britannia on 15 January, 1875. After the customary two years, he was discharged on 21 December, 1876, and he was appointed to the Eclipse on 2 February, 1877 for the North America and West Indies Station. On 22 June he was rated Midshipman. He served in the Bellerophon until 24 February, 1880. On 8 April he was appointed to the Implacable in the Special Service Squadron, and 5 October he joined the Superb in the Mediterranean. On 22 June, 1881, he was given the Acting Rank of Sub-Lieutenant and on 8 July joined Excellent for his Lieutenant's examinations.

He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 30 June, 1884.[1]

Moore was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1896.[2]

He was appointed Commander of H.M.S. Renown on 8 June, 1897, being appointed to Vivid on 21 May to oversee her preparation for commissioning.

Captain

Moore was promoted to the rank of Captain on 30 June, 1901.[3]

On the occasion of the King's inspection of the Home Fleet he was appointed a Member of the Fourth Class of the Royal Victorian Order (M.V.O.) on 3 August, 1907.[4]

He was appointed commander of Dreadnought on 1 December, 1908.[5][6]

His appointment as Commodore, First Class as Captain of the Fleet to Sir William H. May in August, 1909, was the first such appointment since 1871.[7]

Flag Rank

Moore was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 20 March, 1911, vice Warren.[8]

He was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Third Class, or Companion, in the Civil Division of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (C.B.) on 21 September, 1912.[9]

The King's approval of Moore's appointment as Rear-Admiral Commanding the Second Battle Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean was announced on 19 February, 1914.[10]

Moore had the interesting habit of labeling highlighted paragraphs in documents he wished to provide commentary for with Greek letters (α, β, γ, etc.) rather than the more typical Latin alphabet.[11]

Great War

On 12 August, 1914, Moore was appointed Rear-Admiral Commanding Cruiser Force K, with his flag in Invincible.[12] He was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Second Class, or Knight Commander, of the Military Division of the Order of the Bath (K.C.B.) on 22 August.[13]

On 8 February, Moore was appointed Rear-Admiral Commanding Cruiser Force I (Ninth Cruiser Squadron), and hoisted his flag in Argonaut on 12 February.[14]

Moore was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 9 June, 1916.[15]

Post-War

Moore was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 17 January, 1919, vice Peirse,[16] and was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 21 February.[17]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ London Gazette: no. 25372. p. 3009. 1 July, 1884.
  2. ↑ London Gazette: no. 26757. p. 3978. 10 July, 1896.
  3. ↑ London Gazette: no. 27335. p. 4780. 19 July, 1901.
  4. ↑ London Gazette: no. 28048. p. 5390. 6 August, 1907.
  5. ↑ John Roberts. The Battleship Dreadnought, p. 19.
  6. ↑ "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 1 December, 1908. Issue 38818, col E, pg. 6.
  7. ↑ Hansard. HC Deb 10 August 1909 vol 9 cc238-9.
  8. ↑ London Gazette: no. 28477. p. 2320. 21 March, 1911.
  9. ↑ London Gazette: no. 28648. p. 7107. 27 September, 1912.
  10. ↑ "Naval Promotions" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 19 February, 1914. Issue 40451, col F, pg. 6.
  11. ↑ See, for instance, his highlighting of Richard Peirse's September 1912 memorandum on the Pollen fire control system. In MB1/T20/142, Battenberg MSS., University of Southhampton.
  12. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List (September, 1914). p. 4.
  13. ↑ London Gazette: no. 28879. p. 6682. 25 August, 1914.
  14. ↑ Supplement to the Monthly Navy List (August, 1915). p. 7.
  15. ↑ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29621. p. 5828. 13 June, 1916.
  16. ↑ London Gazette: no. 31162. p. 1798. 4 February, 1919.
  17. ↑ London Gazette: no. 31223. p. 3294. 11 March, 1919.

Bibliography

  • "Admiral Sir Gordon Moore" (Obituaries). The Times. Thursday, 5 April, 1934. Issue 46720, col B, pg. 12.

Service Records


Naval Appointments
Preceded by
New Position 		Captain of the Fleet,
Home Fleet
1909 		Succeeded by
The Hon. Somerset A. Gough-Calthorpe
Preceded by
Reginald H. S. Bacon 		Director of Naval Ordnance and Torpedoes
1909 – 1912 		Succeeded by
Frederick C. T. Tudor
Preceded by
Sir Charles J. Briggs 		Third Sea Lord
1912 – 1914 		Succeeded by
Frederick C. T. Tudor
Preceded by
Command Formed 		Rear-Admiral Commanding,
Second Battle Cruiser Squadron
1914 		Succeeded by
Command Disbanded
Preceded by
Ernest C. T. Troubridge 		Rear-Admiral Commanding,
First Cruiser Squadron
1914 – 1915 		Succeeded by
Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot, Bart.
Preceded by
Command Reconstituted 		Rear-Admiral Commanding,
Second Battle Cruiser Squadron
1915 		Succeeded by
William C. Pakenham
Preceded by
John M. de Robeck 		Vice-Admiral Commanding,
Ninth Cruiser Squadron
1915 – 1916 		Succeeded by
Sydney R. Fremantle
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