TWO WW1 GROUPS TO OFFICER BROTHERS KILLED IN ACTION IN 1918. THE FIRST AN OBSERVER OF 34 SQUADRON, ROYAL FLYING CORPS WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN JANUARY 1918 WHEN HIS AIRCRAFT WAS SHOT DOWN IN FLAMES BY TWO OF AUSTRO-HUNGARY’S TOP ACES; OBERLEUTNANT GRASER AND LEUTNANT STROHSCHNEIDER OF FLIK61/J AND A PAIR TO HIS BROTHER. A LIEUTENANT IN THE ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY, WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION AT POZIERERS DURING THE GERMAN MARCH 1918 OFFENSIVE

1914-15 STAR ‘LIEUT. L.W.B. MOORE. R.F.A.’, BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS ‘LIEUT. L.W.B. MOORE.’ BRITISH WAR AND VICTORY MEDALS ‘LIEUT. J. D. MOORE.’ Both groups with their original War Office transmittal documents from 1921, each named and giving medal entitlement.

Lieutenant Lionel William Bentinck Moore, Royal Flying Corps, was born in February 1896. Joining the Royal Field Artillery, he served with 3/6th County of London Brigade in France from 10 October 1915. His RAF service papers show he was seconded to (or joined) the Royal Flying Corps on 29 June 1917 as an Observer and proceeded overseas on 21 August 1917. Service with 34 Squadron on the Italian Front, he was killed in action on 30 January 1918 when his RE8 (number B6487) was attacked and shot down in flames by Albatros DIII’s of Flik 61/J, flown by two of Austro-Hungary’s top Aces; Oberleutnant Franz Graser (the Squadron Leader) and leutnant Ernst Strohschneider. Interestingly, this was the 13 victory for each Ace, their final scores being 18 and 15 victories respectively. Both aces would be killed within 4 months.

https://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/austrhun/index.php

Lieutenant Moore was buried in Tezze British Cemetery, Italy.

Lieutenant John Davidson Moore, Royal Field Artillery, was born in January 1895 and it seems was serving with the French Army at the outbreak of the Great War. Details of this service are as yet unknown, however a family history with the group has a photograph of him in French Uniform with the date ‘August-Sept 1914’. At some later date, he joined the Royal Field Artillery but was killed in action at Pozieres on 22 March 1918 (during the German March Offensive), whilst serving with 161 Brigade. He was no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres memorial.

John was elder brother of Lionel and a third brother, Harold Augustus Moore. The latter who was a Lieutenant in the Royal Regiment of Cavalry, serving in India from 1917 (BWM only), survived the war. He applied for both his brothers war medals in 1921.

Condition NEF. Sold with RAF service papers, MIC etc (digital) and family history (paper).