Captain William MacLeod Moore MC accidentally killed in Belgium, and his death broke a line of family soldiers going back almost two hundred and sixty years. He happened to be the son of W.Bro. Colonel William James Bury Macleod Moore – considered one of the greatest authorities on Knight Templarism in the world.
Early life of William Macleod Moore
Son of Lt. Col. William James Bury MacLeod Moore (69th Regt.) and his second wife, Emily Susan MacLeod Moore, of Montreal. Born in La Prairie, Quebec 23 April 1877. Resident at 3 Iddesleigh Mansions, Caxton Street, Westminster S.W. and employed as an “Agent” (1906), later of Kingsway, and as an Advertising Agent (1914). Made his way to Canada in late 1914.
Irish Masonic History
The ledgers of United Grand Lodge show he was initiated into Royal Kew Lodge No. 3012 in 1906. He petitioned for and joined Canada Lodge No. 3527 as a founder member at its consecration on 11 July 1911. Moore also recorded in the registers of Jerusalem Lodge No. 197 in an entry for 27 February 1914 whilst living at Kingsway, but a further note shows that he did not take up membership. He was a Past Master.
Enlistment of Lt William Macleod Moore
Three years previous service with 3rd Victoria Rifles. A Publisher, when he enlisted 27 April 1915 in London, Ontario. To be Temporary Quartermaster and Honorary Lieutenant, 27 April 1915 attached to the Red Cross, as he is still recovering from an operation.
Second enlistment of Lt William Macleod Moore
Lt William Macleod Moore examined at Etaples on 2 October 1915, and considered fit for the CEF. At this time, 38 years, 5 months of age, standing 5′ 10″ tall, 194 pounds with ruby complexion, grey-blue eyes and dark hair. Re-attested 8 October 1915 also at Etaples.
46th Battalion
Promoted to Temporary Lieutenant in 46th Battalion, 17 August 1916. Permitted to resign appointment as Hon Lt and QM at own request, 17 August 1916.
10th Trench Mortar Battery
Attached to 10th Trench Mortar Battery, and reported from Base wounded, 8 November 1916. Formed at Bramshott on 28 May 1916 under the command of Lieutenant J F Proctor.
Wounded
Lt Moore machine gun bullet wound penetrating right chest. No 2 Red Cross Hospital, Rouen, 19 November 1916, GW chest and arm. No 4 London General Hospital, 22 November 1916. Finally discharged 18 December 1916 (Major David Donald, Major M Browne, Captain G M Davis all of the CAMC). Recovered, 30 January 1917 (Major David Donald, Major P G Brown, Captain V E D Casselman, all of the CAMC).
Officer in Charge of Funerals
Lt William Macleod Moore attached to Canadian Troops in the London area and detailed for duty as Officer in Charge of Funerals in the London area, 12 February 1917.
France
Lt William Macleod Moore arrived in France on 4 May 1917, Boulogne and attached to CRCS.
Ceases to be attached to CRCS on 4 January 1918 and transferred to 46th Canadian Infantry Battalion.
To be Temporary Lieutenant, 5 January 1918.
Aide de Camp
Appointed Aide-de-Camp for 4th Canadian Division, 17 February 1918. Not much known about Captain William Macleod Moore’s time with 4th Division HQ. He certainly spent considerable time with Major-General Sir David Watson on a daily basis. Moore appears in several photographs taken by Lt William Rider Rider – always seated or standing to the left of his commanding officer.
To be Temporary Captain and remained seconded, 10 May 1918.
Captain William Macleod Moore Mentioned in Despatches, 28 May 1918. Strong suspicion the officer on the right is Watson’s aide-de-camp, Captain William MacLeod Moore MC.
Military Cross
Captain William Macleod Moore awarded the Military Cross, 1 January 1919, London Gazette No 31092.
Moore granted Leave to the UK, 11 January 1919.
Captain William Macleod Moore MC rejoined 4th Div HQ in Belgium from leave, 3 February 1919.
Sudden Death of Captain William MacLeod Moore MC
Reported from Base, Captain William Macleod Moore MC died of injuries resulting from a fall, 7 April 1919.
Court of Inquiry
At 11h00 on 7 April 1919, a Court of Enquiry convened at ‘A’ Mess, 4th Division HQ, La Hulpe, Belgium (by order of Major-General Sir David Watson KCB, CMG commanding 4th Canadian Division). Court members Brigadier General J M Ross (10th Infantry Brigade), Lt-Col J Kirkcaldy (12th Infantry Brigade), and Lt-Col H L Keegan (OC 47th Infantry Battalion).
1st Witness
Private Henry Reynolds 178153 a batman of the 4th Canadian Division for Lt Garneau since August of 1917.
2nd Witness
Major John Cotton Maynard a General Physician attached to the 92nd Canadian Infantry Battalion.
3rd Witness
Captain John Reginald Wallace, PB Officer, and Camp Commandant, 4th Canadian Division.
4th Witness
Lt-Col Kenric Rudolphus Marshall DSO, decorated at the Battle of the Somme and at Amiens. Later commanding officer of the 48th Highlanders.
5th Witness
Lt-Col Frederick Charles Bell the D.D.M.S. as of 25 February 1919.
6th Witness
Captain Harold Yeldersley Hicking recently appointed ADC to GOC of the 4th Canadian Division on 17 March 1919.
7th Witness
Captain Ernest Hubert Cooper in Brussels as Paymaster to Canadian Details since 4 February 1919.
Findings
Major-General Sir David Watson Concurs
Mary MacLeod Moore wrote to Militia Headquarters on 12 August 1919, regarding Captain Moore’s Military Cross, Belgian Croix du Guerre and any other medals he was entitled to. Mary asked HQ to reply to Major General Sir David Watson.
Medals and decorations to his sister, Mrs M M Rees of 31 Bullingham Mansions, Pitt St, Kensington, WS, England. Mother died subsequently.
La Hulpe Communal Cemetery
La Hulpe Communal Cemetery contains two Commonwealth burials of the Second World War. Captain William Macleod Moore MC the single Great War casualty buried in the cemetery.
The village of La Hulpe situated to the south of Brussels off the ring R0 which runs between Brussels and Waterloo. You have to walk further along the main path and turn left up the second path. At the end of this path turn left and Moore’s grave the seventh on the left.
W.Bro. Colonel William James Bury Macleod Moore
Supreme Grand Master 1884 – 1889
Colonel Moore born 14 January 1810 in Kildare, Ireland, the eldest son of Captain N. J. Moore.
Bro. Moore, so active in his efforts to introduce Scottish Rite Masonry into Canada, an enthusiastic missionary in the cause of Masonry generally. Born in Ireland in 1810, and initiated into Freemasonry at the early age of 17 years in Aberdeen, Scotland, where he also received the Royal Arch Degree.
Colonel Moore received his early education in Aberdeen, Scotland, graduated in 1825 and attended the Military School at Sandhurst. On his graduation in 1831, he received an Ensign’s commission in the 69th Regiment of Foot, in which he served for twenty years.
Knight Templar
He became a Knight Templar in Ireland, received the degrees of the A. A. S. Rite in New York in 1863, and in 1868 made an active member of the Supreme Council for England, and in the same year, began the organization of the Rite in Canada. Perhaps his principal activity manifested in Knight Templarism. In 1850 he established the first Templar Encampment in connection with Freemasonry in the Island of Malta.
In 1852 Colonel Moore appointed a staff officer of Out-Pensioners and transferred to Canada, arriving in August of that year. His first place of residence was Kingston, where he remained until December of 1856. Soon after coming to Canada, in 1854, revived an old dormant Templar warrant. This marks the first establishment of the Templar order in this country on a constituted basis. He was rightly considered one of the greatest authorities on Knight Templarism in the world.
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry was introduced into the Dominion of Canada on the tenth day of July, 1868, London, Ontario, by virtue of a patent held by the Illustrious Brother Col. William James Bury Macleod Moore from the Supreme Council for England and Wales and the Dependencies of the British Crown.
He then moved to Ottawa, and in 1872 moved to Laprarie, Quebec, where his son William Macleod Moore born in 1877. He then moved and took up residence at St. John’s East, Quebec, and in 1884 we find him in Prioral House, Prescott, Ontario where he lived until his death in 1890. His remains were laid to rest in Mount Royal Cemetery, Montreal.
Children
His first wife was Mary Munro and his second wife was Emily Susan Barber. Of his four children, a son William and a daughter Mary survived two girls who died early. Mary was well known for many years as a writer and contributor to Canadian and English periodicals, and later as the wife of Leonard Rees of London, England. In April 1919, Captain William MacLeod Moore was accidentally killed in Belgium, and his death broke a line of family soldiers going back almost two hundred and sixty years.
Canadian Templarism dates from 1782, when an encampment (later, preceptory) is known to have existed in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In 1800, a second Templar warrant was issued under the authority of Craft Lodge No. 6 at Kingston, Upper Canada. Neither of these lodges flourished, however, and the continuous history of the movement should actually be dated from 7th October, 1855, when Captain William James Bury McLeod Moore (fl. 1831-d. 1890) of the 69th Regiment, an ardent freemason, exchanged the dormant Craft Lodge warrant for a new warrant to establish the Provincial Grand Conclave at Kingston, Canada West, to be called Hugh de Payens.
