John Moyney

He led trapped guardsmen out and covered their river escape.

John Moyney, known as Jack, was born at Rathdowney, County Laois, in January 1895. He worked as a farm labourer before joining the Army in April 1915. Assigned to the Irish Guards, he reached France that October and rose to lance sergeant during the following year.

In September 1917 he commanded fifteen men occupying two advanced posts north of the Broembeek in Belgium. Cut off by the enemy, they held out for four days with little food and no water. When an attack came to drive them from their positions, Moyney organized the defence with grenades and a Lewis gun.

He then led his men through the surrounding troops towards a stream. Moyney and Thomas Woodcock stayed behind to cover the crossing, allowing the others to reach safety before following under fire. Both received the Victoria Cross. George V presented their decorations at Buckingham Palace on 9 March 1918.

Moyney married Bridget Carroll later that month. An extended absence from his unit subsequently brought a court martial and reduction to the ranks, but he returned to service. France awarded him the Médaille militaire in October 1918. He remained overseas until March 1919 and was demobilized that June.

Back in Ireland, illness and irregular employment brought years of financial difficulty. He sought help from regimental and veterans' funds and received a temporary disability pension. He eventually obtained work with the Great Southern Railway and became head porter at Roscrea station, retiring in 1960.

Moyney and his wife raised six children. He remained connected with former comrades, attended military commemorations and raised money for a society supporting young priests. Bridget died in 1969. Moyney died at Roscrea on 10 November 1980 and was buried in the town's Roman Catholic cemetery.

Official Victoria Cross citation:

For most conspicuous bravery when in command of fifteen men forming two advanced posts. In spite of being surrounded by the enemy he held his post for ninety-six hours, having no water and little food. On the morning of the fifth day a large force of the enemy advanced to dislodge him. He ordered his men out of their shell holes, and, taking the initiative, attacked the advancing enemy with bombs, while he used his Lewis gun with great effect from a flank. Finding himself surrounded by superior numbers, he led back his men in a charge through the enemy, and reached a stream which lay between the posts and the line. Here he instructed his party to cross at once while he and Pte. Woodcock remained to cover their retirement. When the whole of his force had gained the south-west bank unscathed he himself crossed under a shower of bombs. It was due to endurance, skill and devotion to duty shown by this noncommissioned officer that he was able to bring his entire force safely out of action.