The death of Charlie Moore
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The late Corporal Charles Moore, the sad intelligence of whose death was received by cable, last Friday, left Victoria on the 1st of May, last year [1900], with the Imperial Contingent (under Colonel Kelly) for active service in South Africa. Corporal Moore was widely known and esteemed in South Melbourne, and the news of his sad death came as a great shock to his numerous friends.
He was of a bright, happy disposition, and very popular. He was a keen sportsman, and prominently connected with football, having played for South Melbourne, and more recently for Essendon. He was also a magnificent swimmer. Before the departure of the contingent, he was the life of the camp at Langwarrin, where his bouyant disposition, and many good qualities, gained him the lore and esteem of all his comrades.
The contingent he was attached to saw a great deal of active service towards the latter end of the campaign, and it was in an engagement at Kwaggahoek, north-west of Braadfort, that Corporal Moore, on the 8th inst. received a wound, which resulted in his death some time later. He was the first man of Imperial contingent to die from gunshot wounds.
Corporal Moore was not quite 25 years of age. His father occupies the position of Commissioner of Lands, in Fiji, and his mother and sisters reside at 46 St. Vincent-place, Albert Park. His many friends intend to perpetuate in some way, the sterling qualities of the deceased, and a meeting has been convened for next Wednesday night for that purpose, by Mr. R. Burke, tobacconist, Dundas-place, Albert Park, and will be held in Mr. Burke's shop. The meeting will then decide as to the most fitting manner to commemorate the memory of the deceased.
It is a curious coincidence that Corporal Moore, one of the three who threw a bottle overboard, on the 8th May last year with a message to comrades in Victoria, received his wounds on the 8th of May this year, exactly 12 months later. The bottle, it will be remembered, was picked up off Port Addis.
Through the courtesy of Mr. R. Burke, a great personal friend of the deceased, we are enabled to publish the last letter written by Corporal Moore. It is dated the 24th February, and contains a graphic account of a brush with the Boers, at a place called Phillipstown. It will be read with mournful interest by the friends of the unfortunate soldier who died for his country.
De Aar,
24th February, 1901.
Dear Bob, — Just a few lines to tell you some experiences I had the other day. The regiment went from here to a place called Phillipstown. We took two days to go, and when we landed we found that the Boers had occupied the town, so the Major ordered an officer and six men to go back about 20 miles and occupy a kopje, in case they came around there. Of course, I had to go; we advanced to the hill in extended order, and nearing the top— bang, bang, bang, went the rifles of the ambushed Boers. We were ordered to take cover, but the order was unnecessary, as the bullets flew all around us. We let them have volley after volley, only to find the beggars were coming down the hill and surrounding us, so I retreated about 200 yards, and when I was getting my horse under cover the poor beast dropped—shot: so out with my knife and cut the saddle to pieces rather than let the Boers get it. I popped and popped at the Boers as they were coming down to take our fellows prisoners, but as soon as you shot one another would take his place.
Well, I shot until my ammunition ran out, so watched them come down and take the officer and four men prisoners; where the other one went I don't know. They looked all over the place for me, but I got underneath, and waited there until dark, when I got up and started towards the railway, and was in luck's way as there was an armoured train waiting for the Boers to cross the line. The sentry challenged me, but I told him I had escaped from the Boers, so got on the train safe. By Jove, I don't want an experience like it again with so few men. Just fancy six men running amuck against at least sixty Boers well fortified.
The Boers never crossed the line that night, so I came on to De Aar. The next day the officer came strolling in with four wounded men, and by Jove he did laugh when he saw me. He made sure I was shot, as they could not find me. I told him I didn't want to go out with six men again. He said he would refuse also. You wouldn't believe, Bob, how the lead was flying. They are terrible shots, but all the same, Bob, they come too close for my liking. One of our fellows got shot right on the top of the head, and has been under an operation: a bit of bone was pressing on the brain. Two others were shot through the shoulder— nothing serious to talk about—the other got hit in the cheek: it will leave a dimple I think.
We are going out in a couple of days again, but will be under a Coldstream Guard officer and 200 men, that's alright. By Jove, if we see them I will pay the compliment back. I believe the column have De Wet cornered, and are going to capture him on the 27th inst., Majuba day, but its ten to one he escapes. Well, Bob, I won't be able to write for some time now, but send you my photo, which I had taken with my pet monkey, so hope you received it.
CHARLIE
P.S.—I believe there are 1250 more men coming over, but I think the war will be over by the time they have been equipped, so they will act as mounted police, the game they wanted us to do. Our time is up next month, so they might be coming to relieve us.
Footnotes
Title: THE LATE CORPORAL MOORE
Author: Record Staff Writer
Publisher: Record (Emerald Hill, Vic: 1881-1954)
Date: Saturday, 25 May 1901, p.3 Article
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