L/Cpl 22179 Denis Garrett Moore

• Age: 29
• From: Clapham, London
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• Died Wednesday 6th September 1916
• Commemorated at: Point 110 O M Cem, Fricourt
  Panel Ref: K.6

Denis Garrett Moore was born 29th August 1887 in Clapham, London and baptised 28th September 1887 at St John the Evangelist, Clapham, Wandsworth, London. He resided in Birmingham. He was the son of Mr. Henry Richard Vernon Moore and Emily Mary Moore (nee Fripp), of Clapham, London. His father died in September 1887.
His mother Emily Mary remarried Frederick Ingham Spinks in June 1900 at Lambeth. 

The 1911 Census shows Denis Garrett living at 13 Moat Road Langley Oldbury, West Bromwich. His mother Emily Mary aged 45, born 1866 no occupation and was born in Lymington, Hants and she has had five children. Denis Garrett aged 23, born 1888 is an Analyst and Kathleen Garret aged 25, born 1886 is a teacher with Oldbury Education Committee and both were born in Clapham, London, Eleanor Mary Spinks aged 10, born 1901 and Hugh Frederick Spinks aged 7, born 1904 are both at school and Enid Margaret Spinks aged 5, born 1906 were all born in Langley Green, Birmingham. They have a servant named Lydia Taylor aged 21, born 1890 also living at the address.

At the Technical School he passed Stage I, Class II Thoretical Organic Chemistry, and Class II Heat.

He enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 20th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Lance Corporal No 22179.

Denis was listed as wounded in Birmingham Post on 02nd June 1916.

He was killed in action on the 06^th September, 1916 aged 29 during the Somme offensive.

There was a court of enquiry assembled in the field on the sixth September 1916 by order of Major H Leech commanding 1/8 Liverpool Regiment for the purpose of the circumstances attending the deaths of No 4641 Private T Tyrell, No 5109 Private A F Toohey 1/8 Liverpool Regiment, No 22179 Lance Corporal D G Moore 20^th Liverpool Regiment attached 1/8 Liverpool Regiment and the injury to No 4524 E Dale 1/8Liverpool Regiment.

President: Captain G S Brighten

Members: 2^nd Lt E B Palmer and 2^nd Lt D J B McCabe 1/8 Liverpool Regiment.

First Witness: Number 2279 Private R Crawford 1/8 Liverpool Regiment.

At camp near Fricourt on 6^th September 1916 about 1.30pm I heard an explosion about 20 yards away. I saw four men lying on the ground groaning and calling out and near them some smoke blowing away.

The men were No 4641 Private T Tyrell, No 5107 No 4524 E Dale of 1/8 Liverpool Regt and No 22179 Private D G Moore 20th Liverpool Regt attached 1/8 Liverpool Regt

They appeared to be very badly injured.

I had not noticed the men before the explosion which sounded as loud as a bomb.

Signed: R Crawford.

2^nd Witness: Capt G.F.R. Smith (R.A.M.C. T.F) attached to 1/8 Liverpool Regiment states:-

At camp near FRICOURT 6^th September 1916 about 1.30 pm, I heard an explosion like a German 77 shell I saw four men lying on the ground 30 yards off groaning. I proceeded to examine them and found No 4641 Private T Tyrell, No 5107 Private A F Toohey both of 1/8 Liverpool Regt

No 22179 Private D. G. Moore 20^th Liverpool Regt attached 1/8 Liverpool Regt were suffering from fatal injuries which I dressed but they all succumbed within half an hour of the explosion. I also found No 4524 Private E Dale of 1/8 Liverpool Regt suffering from a compound fracture of the left thigh which was very serious. I rendered first aid and sent him to Field Ambulance. Whilst dressing his injuries Private Toohey stated he had picked up an unexploded shell which one of the others had taken from him and thrown away. He did not state which man.

Signed: G.F.R. Smith Capt R.A.M.C. (T.F)

The court having considered the evidence is of the opinion:

• That the four men were not on duty at the time of the occurrence.
• That the cause of the occurrence was the accidental explosion of a shell picked up by Private Toohey and taken from him and thrown away by one of his three companions.
• That there is no evidence to show who threw the shell away.
• (d) That Privates Tyrell, Toohey and Moore died from accidental injuries from and Private Dale was accidentally wounded by above mentioned explosion. 

Denis now rests at Point 110 Old Military Cemetery, Fricourt, France. The Inscription on his headstone reads:

“GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS”

Poelcapelle (now Poelkapelle) was taken by the Germans from the French on 20 October 1914, entered by the 11th Division on 4 October 1917, evacuated by Commonwealth forces in April 1918, and retaken by the Belgians on 28 September 1918.

Poelcapelle British Cemetery was made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the surrounding battlefields.

The great majority of the graves date from the last five months of 1917, and in particular October, but certain plots (IA, VIA, VIIA, LI and LXI) contain many graves of 1914 and 1915.

There are now 7,479 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in Poelcappelle British Cemetery. 6,230 of the burials are unidentified but special memorials commemorate 8 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Other special memorials commemorate 24 servicemen buried by the Germans in other burial grounds in the area whose graves could not be located. There is also 1 burial of the Second World War within the cemetery.

The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.

Among those buried in the cemetery is Private John Condon of the Royal Irish Regiment, who at 14 is thought to be the youngest battle casualty of the First World War commemorated by the Commission.

Denis is also commemorated on the Home Office WW1 Memorial, Westminster, Greater London 

Probate 16^th December 1916:

Moore Denis Garrett of 13 Moat Road, Langley Green Birmingham died 6 September 1916 in France on active service Probate London 16 December to Walter George Tripp merchant tailor £72 8s. 9d. 

Soldiers Effects to uncle Walter G. Fripp.

We currently have no further information on Dennis Garrett Moore, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.