Distinguished Service Order : Lieutenant T M Moore , New South Wales Citizen's Bushmen's Contingent Accession Number: REL25341.001

Description

Distinguished Service Order (Queen Victoria). Unnamed as issued.

Contextual Description

Thomas Mitchell Moore was a 25 year old citizen soldier when he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the New South Wales Citizen's Bushman's Contingent raised to serve in the South Africa War (1899-1902). Lieutenant Moore became an officer of 'D' Squadron. The contingent left Sydney on 28 February 1900, disembarked at Biera (Portugese Territory) on 12 April 1900, then proceeded to Rhodesia. By July the men were in action. Elements of the regiment were involved in fierce fighting in the defence and the relief of the Elands River Camp. During this latter action Lieutenant Moore performed the brave work for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. A chaplain, James Green, who was serving with the unit, described Moore's actions in a book, The Story of the Bushmen - 'It was during the retirement of the mounted men (at Eland River) that Lieutenant T. Mitchell Moore, earned his D.S.O.. Captain Baker's composite Bushmen were ordered to retire, owing to the terrific rifle fire of the Boers. During the retirement a trooper's horse was shot, and he himself wounded. Lieutenant Moore rode back, and took him up on his horse, but owing to a slip on the stony ground the horse fell and the trooper came off. All this time they were exposed to heavy fire, but Lieutenant Moore again went back, picked up his man, and brought him safely out of danger.'. The battle of Elands River has been described as the most important single action fought by Australians in the South African War. Lieutenant Moore took part in the unit's other major engagements and was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 19 April 1901). Following their year of service, the contingent returned to Australia and disembarked at Sydney on 11 June 1901. He returned to pastoral activities in which he had been interested before his service began. He managed large properties around Charleville and Winton. He died at Mermaid Beach in 1951.