Rupert Theo Vance Moon VC (1892 - 1986)

Born 14 Aug 1892 in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria (Australia)

Ancestors

Husband of Susan Alison May (Vincent) Moon — married 17 Dec 1931 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia

Died 28 Feb 1986 at age 93 in Barwon Heads, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

Rupert Moon VC is Notable.

Rupert Moon VC is an Anzac who served in World War One.

Rupert Theo Vance "Mick" Moon VC was born on 14th August 1892 in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria (Australia). He was the second son of English emigrants, Arthur Moon, an accountant and later bank inspector, and his wife, Helen nee Dunning. ^[1] Rupert was educated to junior public certificate level at Kyneton Grammar School before becoming a bank clerk at sixteen with the National Bank of Australasia Ltd. He was working at the Maffra branch when the First World War began.

Rupert Moon VC is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Australian Imperial Force 1914-1919
4th Light Horse Regiment; 6th Light Horse Regiment; II ANZAC Mounted Regiment; 58th Infantry Battalion

Having served in the Militia, Mick enlisted on 21st August 1914 in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) for service overseas during the (First World) War. ^[2] He was allocated to the 4th Light Horse Regiment, ^[3] as a trumpeter, and embarked for the Middle East on 19th October. He served, without the horses, with the 6th Light Horse throughout the Gallipoli Campaign from 24th May 1915. Back in Egypt after Gallipoli was evacuated, Mick was promoted to Sergeant on 6th March 1916. Two squadrons of the regiment, including Mick Moon, were detailed for the Western Front to form the II ANZAC Mounted Regiment. The remainder of the regiment later became world famous for its 'cavalry' charge at Beersheba. On 9th September and up to their knees in mud in France, Mick was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and appointed a platoon commander in the 58th Infantry Battalion. ^[4]

Victoria Cross

He was promoted to Lieutenant on 6th April 1917. On 12th May, near Bullecourt, France, Mick Moon's actions under fire resulted in his being awarded the Victoria Cross (VC), the citation reading:

"His bravery was magnificent and was largely instrumental in the successful issue against superior numbers, the safeguarding of the flank of the attack, and the capture of many prisoners and machine guns". ^[5][6]

Rupert Moon VC was wounded at Bullecourt during The Great War.

It was not until Mick was wounded for a fourth time that day, this time severely, that he agreed to retire from the fight! Evacuated to hospital in England, in March 1918 he was sent home to recuperate. His bravest act of the war was, arguably, to volunteer to return to active service. In August 1918 he rejoined the 58th Battalion near Corbie, France, taking part in operations at Mont St Quentin.

Mick was promoted to temporary Captain on 5th February 1919 and, after a detour to Buckingham Palace for presentation of his Cross by King George V, he returned to Australia 10th June 1919. His AIF appointment terminated on 4th October and he was placed on the Reserve of Officers. ^[2]

Mick resumed working for the National Bank, in Geelong, but re-adjusted to civilian life with difficulty. He resigned from the bank in December 1919 and accepted numerous jobs before becoming livestock manager with the woolbrokers Dennys, Lascelles Ltd, Geelong, in 1928.

On 17th December 1931 Mick married Susan 'Sammy' Vincent in St George's Presbyterian Church, Geelong. ^[7]

Mick was awarded the King George VI Coronation Medal in 1937.

Rupert Moon VC is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Australian Army Volunteer Defence Corps 1942-45
6th Battalion (VIC)

During the Second World War, on 5th March 1942, Mick was commissioned in the Australian Army's Volunteer Defence Force, being posted to Victoria's 6th Battalion. With the war over, and won, he was placed back on the Reserve of Officers on 1st November 1945. He was awarded the Australia Service Medal 1939-1945 for his service. ^[8]

Rising in Dennys, Lascelles Ltd, Mick became general manager (1948-59) and a director (1962-75). He was also a director (1940-75) of Queensland Stations Pty Ltd and chairman (1961-67) of The Northern Assurance Co. Ltd.

He lived at Calder Park, Mount Duneed, Victoria from 1954 to 1978. He received both the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal in 1953 and, in 1977, the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal.

Mick passed away, aged 93 years, on 28th February 1986 at Barwon Heads, Victoria, and was buried in Mount Duneed Cemetery. ^[9] He was survived by Sammy, and their son and daughter.

In 1918 an avenue of honour was created linking Bacchus Marsh to the Western Highway. Constructed from elm trees, the avenue was planted to commemorate soldiers from Bacchus Marsh who served in the First World War. The 164th tree in the avenue was planted and dedicated to Mick Moon VC. ^[10]

On 12th May 2008, the Rupert Vance Moon VC Memorial Garden was unveiled at the Mount Duneed Cemetery, with a large crowd in attendance, including Moon's family, representatives from the Returned and Services League of Australia, and past and present soldiers.

Sources

1. ↑ Victoria Birth Index #19259/1892
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Australian War Memorial nominal roll: Rupert Vance Moon; accessed 6 Jun 2019
3. ↑ Australian War Memorial: 4th Australian Light Horse Regiment Australian War Memorial unit record: 4th Australian Light Horse Regiment; accessed 5 Jun 2019
4. ↑ Australian War Memorial unit record: 58th Australian Infantry Battalion; accessed 6 Jun 2019
5. ↑ Australian War Memorial Honours and Awards: Victoria Cross; accessed 6 Jun 2019
6. ↑ London Gazette 12 June 1917 Supplement: 30130 Page: 5865; accessed 5 Jun 2019
7. ↑ Victoria Marriage Index #9289/1931
8. ↑ Australian War Memorial nominal roll: V352179 Captain Rupert Vance Moon; accessed 5 Jun 2019
9. ↑ Victoria Death Index #6481/1986; registered at Whittington
10. ↑ Bacchus Marsh Avenue of Honour; accessed 5 Jun 2019

See also

• Salmon, J R. 'Moon, Rupert Theo Vance (Mick) (1892–1986)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 2012; accessed online 5 Jun 2019.
• Wikipedia profile: Mick Moon; accessed 5 Jun 2019.