Mick Moon
| Rupert Vance "Mick" Moon | |
|---|---|
 Rupert Moon | |
| Nickname(s) | "Mick" |
| Born |
14 August 1892 Bacchus Marsh, Victoria |
| Died |
28 February 1986 (aged 93) Barwon Heads |
| Buried at | Mount Duneed Cemetery |
| Allegiance |
 Australia |
| Service/branch | Australian Army |
| Years of service |
1914–1919 1942–1945 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 58th Battalion |
| Battles/wars | First World War |
| Awards | Victoria Cross |
| Spouse(s) | Susan Alison May Vincent |
Captain Rupert Theo Vance "Mick" Moon VC (14 August 1892 – 28 February 1986) was an Australian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Details
He was born at Bacchus Marsh. He was the son of Mr and Mrs Arthur Moon of Kinaird, Toorak, Victoria.[1] When he left school he worked for the National Bank of Australasia and was at the Maffra branch when World War I began.[2] He was 24 years old, and a lieutenant in the 58th Battalion (Victoria), Australian Imperial Force during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 12 May 1917 near Bullecourt, France, Lieutenant Moon's immediate objective was a position in advance of a hostile trench, and then against the trench itself, after the capture of which it was intended that his men should co-operate in a further assault. Although wounded in the initial advance, he reached the first objective, but was again wounded in the assault on the trench. He nevertheless continued to inspire and encourage his men and captured the trench, but was again wounded when consolidating the position. It was not until he was severely wounded for a fourth time that he agreed to retire from the fight.[3] He later achieved the rank of captain.
His Victoria Cross which he received from King George V at an investiture at Buckingham Palace[4] is displayed at the Australian War Memorial.[5]
After he returned from the war he resumed working for the National Bank in Geelong, a position he held until he took up a senior position with Dennys Lascelles Ltd.[2] On 17 December 1931 he married Sammy Vincent at St George's Church Geelong.[6]
He lived at Calder Park, Mount Duneed from 1954 to 1978.[7][8] He died at his home at Barwon Heads on 28 February 1986 and was buried in the Anglican section of Mount Duneed Cemetery.[9]
Memorial Garden
On 12 May 2008, the Rupert Vance Moon V.C. Memorial Garden was unveiled at the Mount Duneed Cemetery, with a large crowd in attendance, including Moon's descendents, representatives from the Returned and Services League of Australia, and past and present soldiers.
The Avenue of Honour
The Avenue of Honour is an elm tree lined avenue linking Bacchus Marsh to the Western Freeway. The avenue was planted in 1918 to commemorate soldiers from Bacchus Marsh who served in World War I. In his birth town of Bacchus Marsh, in Victoria, the 164th tree in the Avenue of Honour was planted and dedicated to commemorate his service in the war.[10]
In recent years, Moon Reserve was unveiled at the beginning of the Avenue of Honour in honour of Rupert Vance Moon. In 2010, the Avenue of Honour was nominated to be placed on the National Heritage list.[11]
Notes
- ↑ VCs of the First World War Arras and Messines 1917 by Gerald Gliddon
- 1 2 Western Mail (Perth, WA) 4 February 1937 page 11
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30130. p. 5865. 12 June 1917. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
- ↑ Southern Cross (Adelaide, SA) 15 August 1947 page 7
- ↑ The Canberra Times 14 April 1986 page 16
- ↑ Table Talk (Melbourne) 24 December 1931
- ↑ Mount Duneed Primary School Centenary 1878 – 1978
- ↑ Victorian Heritage Database – Rupert Vance Moon Memorial Garden report
- ↑ Salmon 2012.
- ↑ "Bacchus Marsh Avenue Of Honour - People - Rupert Theo Vance Moon VC". avenueofhonour.org.au. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
- ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/20121105034724/http://www.theage.com.au/national/-a-matter-of-honour. Archived from the original on November 5, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2010. Missing or empty
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References
- Salmon, J.R. (2012). "Moon, Rupert Theo Vance (Mick) (1892–1986)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Volume 18. Carlton, Victoria: Melbourne University Press. ISBN 9780522861310.