William Herbert Moore (Service No. 5774429) died of wounds on 16 October, 1944 in the vicinity of Overloon. He was aged 24 and a Lance Corporal in the 1st Battalion Royal Norfolk Regiment. He was initially buried at Cemetery Th.J. Janssen, Overloon and re-interred on 19 May 1947 in Grave III. C. 11. at the CWGC Cemetery in Overloon. His grave is inscribed “Greater Love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his loved ones.”

Family background

William Herbert Moore (who was known as Billy) was born on 24 January 1920 to Herbert Charles and Rosetta Moore in the parish of St Andrew and Christchurch, Eaton, Norwich.

Herbert Moore had been born in Little Plumstead on 6 March 1881 though the Moores originally came from Felmingham. They were game keepers and gardeners. A number of them are interred in Felmingham and Sloley church yard and within the church. Some memorial stones in the church to people named Moore date back to the 16th Century. His parents were Mark Moore and Jemima Ling who had married in Yarmouth in 1866. Mark was born in Skeyton, Norfolk, around 1837 and Jemima in Witton, Norfolk around 1842. Just after Herbert’s birth in 1881 they were living at 11, Bye Road, Little Plumstead and Mark was working as an Agricultural Labourer, but by 1891 they had moved to Near Kilns, Sandy Lane, Little Plumstead where they still were in 1901. Mark was working as a Woodman / Market Gardener. Herbert was the second youngest of ten children, though one had died in infancy. In 1901 Herbert was working as a Bricklayer’s Labourer. In 1911 Herbert was living at Stratton St Michael as a boarder. He was described as a Wireman in the Army Reserve. He had enlisted in 1905 and went on to fight in the first World War. He was a telegrapher retained by the army. He lost the use of his left arm when it was shattered by a bullet at Ypres on 7 December 1915. As a result, he was discharged on 25 January 1916 as he was no longer fit for service.

Rosetta Wyatt had been born in East Dereham on 24 May 1884. Her parents were Robert Alfred Wyatt (or Alfred Robert) and Esther Wyatt (nee Cranmer). Robert was born in 1857 and Esther around 1852, both in East Dereham. In 1901 and 1911 Robert and Esther were living at 18 Malthouse Cottages, East Dereham. In 1901 Robert was working as a Railway Shunter and in 1911 as a Railway Porter. They seem to have had a daughter, Laura, in 1878 and then Rose in 1884, though they may well have had other children. In 1901 Rose was working as a Dressmaker. However, in 1911, she was visiting Harry and Alice Howlett at Moor Dickleburgh Scole, Dickleburgh, Norfolk.

Herbert Charles Moore, aged 31, married Rosetta Wyatt, aged 27, on 24 October 1911 in East Dereham in Norfolk. Herbert was a Postal and Telegraph Wireman at the time. Herbert’s father was shown as Mark Moore, a Gardener. Rosetta’s father was Robert Alfred Wyatt, a Railway Shunter.

Herbert and Rose appear to have had three children: Phyllis R in 1914, Alfred C in 1917 and William Herbert in 1920, though Alfred died in infancy.

By 1921 Herbert and Rose were living at 83, Muriel Road, Norwich with their two surviving children. Herbert was working as a Night Telephonist for the Post Office. Herbert and Rose were at the same address in September 1939 and Herbert was in the same occupation. Their children were no longer at home.

Military career

Billy enlisted at Norwich in the Territorial Army for a term of 4 years on 26 April 1939. He stated that he was born on 24 January 1920 in Norwich and was single at that time. He gave his address as 83 Muriel Road, Norwich, Norfolk. He had been employed as a Mechanic. He gave his father, Charles Herbert Moore, at the same address as next of kin.

He was described as being 6ft ¾ in tall and weighed 159 lbs, He had a fresh complexion, fair hair and blue eyes. He gave his religion as Church of England. He was declared medically fit.

He was posted as a Private in the 4th Battalion, Royal Norfolk Regiment on 1 May 1939, but this would only be a part time role. He attended a camp for 14 days in 1939. He joined the 6th Battalion as a full time soldier on 2 September 1939. He was attached to 53 Infantry Brigade on 25 September 1939.

The 53rd Infantry Brigade had been disbanded in 1919 but was reformed as part of the Territorial Army on 18 September 1939. It initially consisted of the 5th, 6th and 7th Battalions of the Royal Norfolk Regiment. It was assigned to the 18th Infantry Division and during the early years of the war it remained in the United Kingdom mainly on training duties; on home defence and anticipating a German invasion. However, the invasion never arrived.

Billy married Maud Elizabeth Daynes on 14 January 1941 at Heigham, Norwich.

Maud had been born on 27 March 1921. She was the daughter of Albert E and Susan Daynes. Albert was born on 16 March 1885 and Susan on 23 August 1886. Albert E Daynes, who was working as a Carter, married Susan Mason in Norwich on 26 August 1907. Their address was given as 5 Annisons Yard, Bull Close. Albert’s father was James Daynes, a paperhanger. Susan’s father was William Mason, a Labourer. They had eight children as follows, all in Norwich: Edith Jane 1908, Susan Elizabeth 1909, Albert J 1911, Victor W 1912, Alice S 1914, Douglas C 9 November 1918, Maud E 27 March 1921 and Violet M 3 January 1923.

In 1911 Albert and Susan were living at 23 Turners Square, Rose Lane, Norwich with their first three children. Albert was still working as a Carter. By 1921 the family were living at 4, Lawrence Street, Norwich with their first 6 children. By now, Albert was working as a Fish Fryer for Mr J Daynes’ Fish Merchant. Albert and Susan were at the same address in September 1939 and Albert was in the same occupation. The three youngest children, including Maud, were still at home. Maud was working as a Shoe Operator as was her sister Violet.

After his marriage, Billy changed his next of kin to his wife at 151 Dereham Road, Norwich, Norfolk.

He suffered an injury whilst on duty on 1 August 1941. He stated that he was driving a motorcycle and took a corner a bit too wide and over-shot the kerb. He suffered abrasions to the head and for a few days he had dried blood-stained sputum but an X-ray did not show any injury to the chest organs. The injury wasn’t serious and was unlikely to affect his future performance as a soldier. However, the Army took the view that he was to blame for the accident as it was stated that he took the corner which he knew well at much too high a speed when the road was greasy.

He was posted to a Y List on 21 August which was a holding place for men not with their usual unit. This may have had something to do with the fact that the 53rd Infantry Brigade was sent, with the rest of the 18th Division, to the Middle East in late 1941 and William was not destined to go with them. He was then sent to an Infantry Training Company on 5 November 1941 and then posted to the 1st Battalion of the Royal Norfolk Regiment on 26 February 1942.

Billy and Maud’s first child, Peter William Moore, was born in Ealing, Middlesex in autumn 1942. Maud was staying with relatives of Billy’s mother to avoid the bombing in Norwich and because Billy was posted nearby.

Billy was sent to HQ 185 Infantry Brigade (of which the 1st Norfolks were a part) on 8 April 1943 and back to the 1stBattalion on 1 October 1943.

He embarked for North West Europe on 3 June 1944. He will have landed with the rest of his Battalion in Normandy at Sword Beach on D-Day (6 June 1944). It played its part in the fight for Normandy through to mid August, losing many men. Near the end of this time, on 12 August, William was promoted to Paid Acting Lance Corporal.

From 17 August until 3 September the Battalion had a rest period which also allowed them to take on reinforcements to replace the substantial number of men they had lost. It then moved to Villers en Vexin until 17 September.

By this time, the Allied troops were making a fast advance through France and Belgium to the Escaut canal south of Eindhoven in readiness for Operation Market Garden. From 17 September, airborne troops landed in a corridor from the Belgian/Dutch border via Eindhoven and Nijmegen to Arnhem to secure bridges and allow ground forces to move forward with speed – then to reinforce and strike east into Germany.

The role of the Battalion along with others was to protect the main line of communications northwards along this corridor. It moved on from Villers en Vexin on 18 September and reached Peer on 19 September then Asten on 23 September. They entered Helmond, just east of Eindhoven, on 25 September. It had just been taken by another Battalion and they received an uproarious welcome from the Dutch people.

On 29 September, it moved out of Helmond and on over the River Maas at Grave through Heumen and on to Maldens Vlak. Here they spent time patrolling the area facing the Reichswald Forest in Germany not far to the east.

Problems with supply lines had resulted in the failure of the Allies to hold the bridge at Arnhem, so plans changed. The Allies found themselves in a narrow salient through the Netherlands and so it was decided to clear the enemy to the south in Overloon, Venray and Venlo while also securing Antwerp to help with supply issues. American Troops initially attempted to take Overloon but did not succeed so the British Army took on the task.

The 1st Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment were one of many who then took part in Operation Aintree with the aim of widening the salient by taking Overloon to the south and then Venray before finally eliminating a German bridgehead on the River Maas near Venlo.

On 9 October the Battalion retraced its steps to Grave. On 11 to 13 October they continued south through Haps, St Hubert, Wanroy, St Anthonis and Oploo to reach woods just north of Overloon. The Battalion was in reserve while Overloon itself was taken on 13 October.

On 14 October they passed through Overloon along the road to Venray, through woods between the town and the Molenbeek (also known as the Loobeek) which was a wide channel crossing their path. They met heavy opposition that day and suffered 80 casualties. They remained in that position the following day in very bad conditions. Trenches could only be dug to a depth of 2-3 feet as the water table was so high.

On 16 October the Battalion was ordered to form a bridgehead over the Molenbeek, supported by an artillery barrage and tanks. While footbridges could be laid across the Beek, more substantial bridges were required for tanks and other vehicles to cross. Because of the wet and muddy conditions, attempts to create these bridges were unsuccessful until the following day, so the Battalion was left to cross the Beek without tank support. A large number of casualties were again incurred in the exposed, flat and muddy ground which was also mined. This was the day that Billy died of wounds.

No official details of how he was wounded have been found. However, a story passed down in the family suggests that threw himself on a mine on the banks of the Molenbeek to save his men which is the reason for the inscription on his grave. This story originated from a friend called Shingfield who was his best friend in the Battalion and a stretcher bearer who was in touch with the family after the war. While it is likely that he would have died outright rather than being wounded if had he thrown himself on a mine, it is very plausible that he stood on what was called a Schuh mine which was designed to only injure but then injure other men as they came to the injured man’s rescue. It may be that he was wounded by such a mine but then told men not to approach him to avoid them being injured too – a similar act of bravery to the family story.

Between 13 and 18 October, 43 men of the Battalion died and 200 were wounded.

A monument to the memory of the Royal Norfolk Regiment now stands near the crossing of the Molenbeek.

Another son, Dennis A C Moore, had been born to Billy and Maud in Norwich in late 1944. It seems that Billy was aware of the birth of his son before he died as he had a newspaper clipping announcing his birth in his wallet when he died.

Billy had served for a total of 5 years and 174 days from when he first enlisted in the Territorials, of which 136 days were in North West Europe. He was awarded the following medals: 1939-45 Star, Defence Medal, France & Germany Star and War Medal 1939/45. His wife was awarded a pension of £1/12/6 payable from 29 January 1945 and an allowance of £1/2/- for their two children.

Billy’s mother, Rose Moore, had died in Norwich on 24 August 1944, just under two months before her son. His father, Herbert C Moore, died in Norwich in 1955.

Maud went on to marry again in 1948 in Norwich. Her husband was Donald R Rouse. They had two children, both in Norwich: Reginald D 1948 and Jayne W 1965.

Maud Eliza Rouse died in Norwich in 2000.

From FindMyPast website: Civil and Parish Birth, Marriage and Death Records; England Census and 1939 Register Records; Electoral Rolls; Military Records
“Thank God and the Infantry – from D-Day to VE-Day with the 1st Battalion, the Royal Norfolk Regiment” by John Lincoln
Wikipedia 53rd Infantry Brigade
Service record for WH Moore from the National Archives ref WO 423/1448886
Photo and assistance from Ann Moore, Billy’s daughter in Law

Research Elaine Gathercole