The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

David McNay · Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 11:45 pm Post subject: Gordon Moir, Junior

This man is one of six men listed on the Bank of Scotland memorial I can't conclusively identify.

I do, however, have some information which is confirmed from several sources.

Gordon Moir was the son of Gordon and Mary Moir. Gordon senior was a school board officer.

Gordon junior was born 6th June 1891. The 1901 census shows he had a brother named George.

Gordon is listed on the Bearsden memorial. There is also a George W Moir.

Georgw W Moir is this man:

Name: MOIR
Initials: G W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
Unit Text: 5th Bn.
Date of Death: 18/07/1916
Service No: 6353
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: I. F. I.
Cemetery: FLATIRON COPSE CEMETERY, MAMETZ

Gordon is proving harder to track down. The Bank memorial lists him as a Captain. The memorial hjas been wrong with ranks before, but usually along the lines of lisiting someone as a Lance Corporal when they were a private (and possibly acting as an unpaid Lance Corporal). So if they list him as a Captain, it's likely he was commissioned.

There are two commissioned men on the CWGC under G Moir. One is a 2nd Lt G A Moir in the RAF. I checked his service record online and it's inconclusive since it's practically blank.

The other possible is this chap:

Name: MOIR
Initials: G
Nationality: Indian
Rank: Captain
Regiment/Service: Indian Army Reserve of Officers
Secondary Regiment: 94th Russell's Infantry
Secondary Unit Text: attd.
Date of Death: 10/06/1919
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Face F.
Memorial: KIRKEE 1914-1918 MEMORIAL

Nothing to suggest this is my man until you check his Medal Index Card. Which lists him as formerly a private in the 5th Scottish Rifles.

The same regiment as George W Moir. Who might be the brother of Gordon.

However, the MIC also has the medal going to his mother, who is living in Fife, and not Bearsden where the family had been residing. The MIC for G W Moir lists him as George Walker Moir but no next of kin listed.

Strangely, this Indian Army G Moir is not on the SNWM.

Do you think I'm on to something? Could this be my man? Or am I clutching at straws? I don't want to add this information until I can confirm it in some way. It's all a little too vague for my liking.

David McNay · Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 11:57 pm Post subject:

Neither Goerge nor Gordon are listed on the Glasgow City Roll of Honour.

I can, however, confirm that Gordon Moir and George W Moir were brothers.

What are the chances of another G Moir serving in the same regiment as a George Moir who had a brother of the same name?

spoons · Posted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 1:08 pm Post subject:

Sounds good to me. I tried to look up the Indian Army Reserve of Officers records on Ancestry, they are supposed to be there but I couldn't find them.

\Paul

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1649 Location: Aberdeenshire

I would be reluctant to say it is the same man without conclusive proof.

There are plenty of cases where names are made to fit the circumstances, rather than the other way about. I would go with " Believed to be " .
That said, I am pretty certain he is the same man, brother of George.

Captain Moir is Gordon Moir. He was previously Pte 6210 in 5th Cameronians, later a Lt., then in the Indian Army Reserve of Officers and finally a Capt.
His promotion from L/Cpl. to 2nd. Lt. was gazetted in 1915.

Lance-Corporal Gordon Moir, from The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), to be Second Lieutenant.
Dated 23rd December, 1915.

The MIC confirms his death and that a BW & VM were issued in India which must be 1919.
The NOK have not chosen to add to the basic detail for their sons provided by the Army in either case. There are many reasons for this.

It seems likely Gordon Moir died of illness whilst serving in India, possibly after discharge. He is buried in Bombay (Sewri) Cemetery. Grave X.E.2. His death would probably have been included on an Indian Army death return which (if they exist) will be in the India Office records at the British Library.

Names missing from SNWM is far from unusual. I can give you hundreds of them.
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

David McNay · Posted: Tue Nov 17, 2009 5:34 am Post subject:

I'm intending to go along the "believed to be" route with this one.

The evidence for it being the man I'm looking for is good, but not conclusive. So in the absence of 100% proof I'll mark it as the most likely candidate.

As I've said elsewhere, my visit to the banks archives this week might provide further information.