Rupert Thomas Vance Moon
Lieutenant, 58th Battalion. * Australian Imperial Force
- Register No.
- 883 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Lieutenant all Lieutenants →
- Unit
- 58th Battalion. * Australian Imperial Force (register: 58th Battalion, AIF) all AIF VCs →
- Date of action
- 12 May 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 14th June, 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- the 14th August, 1892 at Bacchus March, Victoria, Australia
- Died
- 28th February, 1986 at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Memorial / grave
- Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
Digest of citation
Lieutenant Moon's foremost objective was a position in front of a hostile trench and then the attack on the hostile trench itself.. It was intended that, after the trench was taken, his men would attack a strong point further to the rear of the enemy line. During the initial advance the lieutenant was wounded but he reached the objective. He then led his men in the attack on the trench itself where he was wounded again, limiting his movement, all the time encouraged and inspired his men and the trench was captured. With great courage, Lieutenant Moon continued to lead and inspire, his now diminished command, in the main attack: receiving a further wound but the assault was a success. The lieutenant was wounded again whilst the men were consolidating their position. A fourth wound through his face, this time, he consented to retire for treatment. His courage and leadership was largely instrumental in the attack being a success, the enemy were in superior numbers and the safeguarding of the flank and the capture a machine guns and many prisoners
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
MOON, Rupert Thomas Vance. (reg No. 883).
Lieutenant. 58th Battalion. * Australian Imperial Force.
London Gazetted on 14th June, 1917.
Born on the 14th August, 1892 at Bacchus March, Victoria, Australia.
Died on 28th February, 1986 at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Memorial at Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
Digest of Citation reads: Lieutenant Moon's foremost objective was a position in front of a hostile trench and then the attack on the hostile trench itself.. It was intended that, after the trench was taken, his men would attack a strong point further to the rear of the enemy line. During the initial advance the lieutenant was wounded but he reached the objective. He then led his men in the attack on the trench itself where he was wounded again, limiting his movement, all the time encouraged and inspired his men and the trench was captured. With great courage, Lieutenant Moon continued to lead and inspire, his now diminished command, in the main attack: receiving a further wound but the assault was a success. The lieutenant was wounded again whilst the men were consolidating their position. A fourth wound through his face, this time, he consented to retire for treatment. His courage and leadership was largely instrumental in the attack being a success, the enemy were in superior numbers and the safeguarding of the flank and the capture a machine guns and many prisoners.
* Victoria.
Additional information:. Captain Moon was the son of Mr and Mrs Arthur Moon of Kinnaird,, Victoria, Australia. His father worked for the National Bank of Australia as an inspector. Captain Moon was educated at Kyneton Grammar School, Victoria. He joined the Australian Army on 21st August 1914 and sailed with 4th Australian Light Horse in October 1914. He served at Anzac in the Gallipoli campaign before going to France in May 1916. He was promoted lieutenant in the 58th Australian Infantry on 9th September 1916.
Additional information
Captain Moon was the son of Mr and Mrs Arthur Moon of Kinnaird,, Victoria, Australia. His father worked for the National Bank of Australia as an inspector. Captain Moon was educated at Kyneton Grammar School, Victoria. He joined the Australian Army on 21st August 1914 and sailed with 4th Australian Light Horse in October 1914. He served at Anzac in the Gallipoli campaign before going to France in May 1916. He was promoted lieutenant in the 58th Australian Infantry on 9th September 1916.
* Victoria.
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Alf recorded the memorial as: Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia
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