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, a law student called to the Bar by the Inner Temple in 1871, and Nina Augusta Henerica (born 28 June, 1836), the daughter of Robert Gun-Cuninghame. His mother died on 9 July, 1869, and his father died on 24 June, 1873, at Worthing.

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 20 August 1904, he was appointed in command of the first class protected cruiser Ariadne.[4]

Moore assumed command of the first class protected cruiser Royal Arthur in July 1905,[5] remaining with her until he was appointed captain of the armoured cruiser Euryalus in May 1906.[6]

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.[7]

He was appointed in command of H.M.S. Dreadnought on 1 December, 1908.[8][9]

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.[10]

Flag Rank

Moore was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 20 March, 1911, vice Warren.[11]

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.[12] He was invested with the insignia of the order by the King in an investiture at Buckingham Palace on 10 October.[13]

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.[14]

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.[15]

Great War

On 12 August, 1914, Moore was appointed Rear-Admiral Commanding Cruiser Force K, with his flag in Invincible.[16] 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.[17]

On 8 February, Moore was appointed Rear-Admiral Commanding Cruiser Force I (Ninth Cruiser Squadron), and hoisted his flag in Argonaut on 12 February.[18]

Moore was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 9 June, 1916.[19]

Post-War

Moore was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 17 January, 1919, vice Peirse,[20] and was placed on the Retired List at his own request on 21 February.[21]

Bibliography

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

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
New Command
Rear-Admiral Commanding,
Cruiser Force K

1914
Succeeded by
Command Disbanded

Preceded by
Command Reconstituted
Rear-Admiral Commanding,
Second Battle Cruiser Squadron

1915
Succeeded by
William C. Pakenham

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Montague E. Browning
Captain of H.M.S. Ariadne
20 Aug, 1904[22] – 18 Jul, 1905[23]
Succeeded by
Bentinck J. D. Yelverton
Preceded by
Richard P. F. Purefoy
Captain of H.M.S. Royal Arthur
18 Jul, 1905[24] – 15 May, 1906[25]
Succeeded by
George A. Ballard
Preceded by
George A. Ballard
Captain of H.M.S. Euryalus
15 May, 1906[26] – 8 Feb, 1907[27]
Succeeded by
Edward M. Phillpotts
Preceded by
Richard F. Phillimore
Flag Captain, Portsmouth Station
8 Feb, 1907[28] – 12 Aug, 1907
Succeeded by
William H. Baker-Baker
Preceded by
Charles E. Madden
Naval Assistant to the First Sea Lord
12 Aug, 1907[29] – 1 Dec, 1908[30]
Succeeded by
Henry F. Oliver
Preceded by
Charles Bartolomé
Captain of H.M.S. Dreadnought
1 Dec, 1908[31][32] – 30 Jul, 1909[33]
Succeeded by
Herbert W. Richmond
Preceded by
Appointment Revived
Captain of the Fleet, Home Fleet
30 Jul, 1909[34] – 16 Dec, 1909[35]
Succeeded by
The Hon. Somerset A. Gough-Calthorpe
Preceded by
Reginald H. S. Bacon
Director of Naval Ordnance and Torpedoes
16 Dec, 1909[36] – 29 May, 1912[37]
Succeeded by
Frederick C. T. Tudor
Preceded by
Charles J. Briggs
as Third Sea Lord and Controller of the Navy
Third Sea Lord
29 May, 1912[38]
Succeeded by
Frederick C. T. Tudor
Preceded by
?
Rear-Admiral Commanding, Seventh Cruiser Squadron
15 Jul, 1913[39] – 9 Aug, 1913[40]
Succeeded by
Arthur H. Christian
Preceded by
Ernest C. T. Troubridge
Rear-Admiral Commanding, First Cruiser Squadron
12 Aug, 1914[41] – 17 Jan, 1915[42]
Succeeded by
Sir Robert K. Arbuthnot, Bart.
Preceded by
?
Rear-Admiral Commanding, Second Battle Cruiser Squadron
12 Aug, 1914[43]
Succeeded by
Sir George E. Patey
Preceded by
New Command
Rear-Admiral in the First Battle Cruiser Squadron
4 Nov, 1914[44] – 29 Nov, 1914[45]
Succeeded by
Command Abolished
Preceded by
John M. de Robeck
as Rear-Admiral Commanding, Cruiser Force I
Rear-Admiral Commanding, Ninth Cruiser Squadron
12 Feb, 1915[46][47] – 30 Aug, 1916[48]
Succeeded by
Sydney R. Fremantle

Footnotes

  1. The London Gazette: no. 25372. p. 3009. 1 July, 1884.
  2. The London Gazette: no. 26757. p. 3978. 10 July, 1896.
  3. The London Gazette: no. 27335. p. 4780. 19 July, 1901.
  4. Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
  5. Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  6. Mackie, Colin. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS.
  7. The London Gazette: no. 28048. p. 5390. 6 August, 1907.
  8. Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
  9. "Naval and Military Intelligence" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Tuesday, 1 December, 1908. Issue 38818, col E, p. 6.
  10. Hansard. HC Deb 10 August 1909 vol 9 cc238-9.
  11. The London Gazette: no. 28477. p. 2320. 21 March, 1911.
  12. The London Gazette: no. 28648. p. 7107. 27 September, 1912.
  13. "Court Circular" (Court and Social). The Times. Friday, 11 October, 1912. Issue 40027, col A, p. 9.
  14. "Naval Promotions" (Official Appointments and Notices). The Times. Thursday, 19 February, 1914. Issue 40451, col F, p. 6.
  15. 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.
  16. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September 1914). p. 4.
  17. The London Gazette: no. 28879. p. 6682. 25 August, 1914.
  18. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (August, 1915). p. 7.
  19. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29621. p. 5828. 13 June, 1916.
  20. The London Gazette: no. 31162. p. 1798. 4 February, 1919.
  21. The London Gazette: no. 31223. p. 3294. 11 March, 1919.
  22. Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
  23. Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
  24. Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
  25. Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
  26. Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
  27. Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
  28. Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
  29. Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
  30. Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
  31. Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
  32. The Navy List. (July, 1909). p. 304.
  33. Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
  34. Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
  35. Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
  36. Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
  37. Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
  38. The Naval Staff of the Admiralty. p. 125.
  39. Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. p. 645.
  40. Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/20. p. 645.
  41. Supplement to the Monthly Navy List. (September 1914). p. 4.
  42. Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
  43. Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
  44. Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
  45. Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
  46. Squadrons and Senior Naval Officers in Existence on 11th November, 1918. f. 20.
  47. Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.
  48. Moore Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/42. f. 64.