Hans Moore

Rode back alone to aid a soldier stranded under enemy attack

Hans Garrett Moore was born at Richmond Barracks, Dublin, on 31 March 1834, into a military family. Educated at Banagher Royal School and Trinity College Dublin, he entered the Army in June 1855 and soon transferred to the 88th Regiment of Foot. His early active service took him to India during the uprising, where he was wounded in operations against rebel-held positions.

He later served as adjutant of the 88th and became a captain in 1872. During the Ashanti expedition of 1873-74 he helped organize local forces and operated on the flank of the main advance. Promotion to major followed in 1874.

On 29 December 1877, near Komgha in the Cape Colony, Moore was serving with the Frontier Armed and Mounted Police when his party faced overwhelming numbers. During the retreat, Private Giese was unable to mount his horse. Moore returned alone to help him. He remained until Giese was killed, shot two attackers and escaped despite an assegai wound to his arm. The attempt to prevent a comrade being abandoned, rather than a successful rescue, brought the Victoria Cross.

Moore briefly commanded the newly formed Cape Mounted Riflemen in 1878-79 before returning to British regimental service. He subsequently served with the 93rd Highlanders. In the Egyptian campaign of 1882 he was provost marshal under Sir Garnet Wolseley, took part in operations including Tel-el-Kebir and was mentioned in despatches. He was appointed a Companion of the Bath and received an Ottoman order.

He later commanded the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and retired in January 1888 with the rank of colonel. His retirement was short. In October 1889 he drowned in Lough Derg near Dromineer while attempting to secure a launch to a buoy. His career had encompassed India, West Africa, southern Africa and Egypt, followed by less than two years of retirement.

Victoria Cross citation London Gazette, 27 June 1879, page4143:

For his gallant conduct in risking his own life in endeavouring to save the life of Private Giese, of the Frontier Armed Mounted Police, on the occasion of the action with the Gaikas near Komgha, on the 29th December, 1877. It is reported that when a small body of Mounted Police were forced to retire before overwhelming numbers of the enemy, Major Moore observed that Private Giese was unable to mount his horse, and was thereby left at the mercy of the Kaffirs. Perceiving the man’s danger, Major Moore rode back alone into the midst of the enemy and did not desist in his endeavour to save the man until the latter was killed, Major Moore having shot two Kaffirs and received an assegai wound in the arm during his gallant attempt.