Aubrey Edward Duncombe Moore

File:Aubrey Moore Magnificent.jpg

Moore as a Lieutenant in Magnificent, c. 1905.
From official officers' photograph in album of George Napier Tomlin.

Commander (retired) Aubrey Edward Duncombe Moore (16 November, 1879 – 9 October, 1946) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Born in Northamptonshire the son of Edward Massham Moore, a clerk in Holy Orders.

Moore was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1901.

In May 1904, Moore completed a ten day navigation course in Amphion. He was then sent to join H.M.S. Magnificent on 16 July and served in her for a year and a half as part of the Channel Fleet, being temporarily entrusted as her gunnery officer for the last six months. He left the battleship when he was appointed to command the destroyer Zebra on 22 December 1905.

An inspection of Zebra in 1906 found her in good condition, but the starboard head was being used as a paint shop against orders.

Moore was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 31 December, 1909 after contributing to good torpedo practice results in the ship that year.

On 15 June, 1910, Moore was appointed to serve in the second class protected cruiser Rainbow, and transferred with her to Canadian service on 4 August. In 1912, he applied for retirement under the provisions of Order in Council of 18 October, 1909 but was refused. He served with Rainbow out of Canada until May, 1913. The Director of the Naval Service of Canada reported favourably upon his service, and he returned to Royal Navy pay on 6 August.

In 1913, Moore applied for Canadian leave to be increased and was refused. He complained about harsh treatment from the Canadian government. On 9 August, 1913, he was appointed in command of the torpedo gunboat Speedwell of First Fleet. The appointment was antedated to 7 August to avoid putting him on half-pay.

Moore was thanked for his promptness when, on 25 May 1918, P75 carried out an attack on an enemy submarine.

Moore was appointed in command of the patrol boat P38 on 12 December, 1918.

Moore was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Commander on 16 November, 1922.

World War II

In late August 1939, Moore was appointed to Drake, additional, for N.C.S. duties in Swansea. He presently "committed a serious error for which there was no justification & which had most unfortunate consequences – with regard to S.S. Aviemore. This appears to be referring to a merchant sunk by U 31 on 16 September, 1939.

On 7 January, 1943, he was reverted to the Retired List as medically unfit owing to tuberculosis.

See Also

• Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Walter G. Jones	Captain of H.M.S. Zebra 22 Dec, 1905 – 12 May, 1906	Succeeded by Robert J. Buchanan
Preceded by Robert J. Buchanan	Captain of H.M.S. Hunter 12 May, 1906 – 28 May, 1906	Succeeded by Robert J. Buchanan
Preceded by Percy Crabtree	Captain of H.M.S. Thorn 28 May, 1906 – 29 Jan, 1908	Succeeded by James W. G. Innes
Preceded by James W. G. Innes	Captain of H.M.S. Waveney 29 Jan, 1908 – 15 Mar, 1910	Succeeded by Charles C. Dix
Preceded by Basil R. Brooke	Captain of H.M.S. Speedwell 9 Aug, 1913 – 28 Mar, 1914	Succeeded by Alexander C. Underwood
Preceded by Claude P. Champion de Crespigny as Captain of H.M.S. P13	Captain of H.M.S. P75 24 Jul, 1917 – 11 Mar, 1918	Succeeded by Henry Hamilton
Preceded by Humphrey E. Archer	Captain of H.M.S. Leonidas 11 Mar, 1918 – 30 Mar, 1918	Succeeded by Orrell Bake
Preceded by Adam Ferguson	Captain of H.M.S. Cossack Mar, 1918 – May, 1918	Succeeded by Ralph Kerr
Preceded by Charles W. T. V. S. Lepper	Captain of H.M.S. P54 7 May, 1918 – 12 Dec, 1918	Succeeded by Gilbert C. Pelly
Preceded by Gilbert C. Pelly	Captain of H.M.S. P38 12 Dec, 1918 – 26 Feb, 1919	Succeeded by Rowland K. C. Pope