TOPIC:

James Joseph Hart alias Frederick Moir

Severely Wounded in Action – Scimitar Hill, Suvla Bay 21 August 1915

Sergeant, 2nd Battalion, West Riding Regiment – Matabele War 1896
Sergeant, 3rd Battalion, West Riding Regiment – Anglo Boer War
Company Sergeant Major, 8th (Service) Battalion, West Riding Regiment – Gallipoli
Regimental Sergeant Major, 18th Suffolk Regiment & 8th West Riding Regiment - WWI

- British South Africa Company Medal 1896 reverse to 2742. SGT. FREDCK MOIR. 2/W. RID.REGT.
- Queens South Africa Medal (Cape Colony) to 2742 SEJT J. HART, W. RIDING. REGT
- Kings South Africa Medal (South Africa 1901 & 1902) to 2742 SERJT: J. HART. W. RIDING REGT
- 1914-15 Star to 10988 C.S.MJR. J.J. HART. W.RID.R.
- British War Medal to 10988 W.O.CL.2. J.J. HART. W.RID.R.
- Victory Medal to 10988 W.O.CL.2. J.J. HART. W.RID.R.
- Army Long Service & Good Conduct Medal GVR to 2742 C.SJT: J.J. HART. W. RIDING R.

James Hart started out on his military journey as Frederick Moir, for reasons known only to himself. He later adopted for use the names given to him at birth – James Joseph Hart.

Born in Reigate, Surrey on 18 July 1872 he was the son of James Hart, a Butler by profession and his wife Sophia. He was baptised in the Parish Church in Reigate on 21 June 1873. At the time of the 1881 England census a seven year old James was living in South Road, Reigate with his parents. Father James was still a Butler and, when at home, presided over a household which included James and his three younger siblings – Walter (6), George (5) and William (4).



On 17 June 1890 an 18 year old James strolled into the recruiting office of the West Riding Regiment in London and, with a flourishing hand, completed and signed the necessary attestation forms for Short Service (7 Years with the Colours, 5 Years with the Reserve) in the name, quite inexplicably, of Frederick Moir. Claiming to be a Groom by occupation, with Militia service in the 4th Battalion, Oxfordshire Light Infantry, he was 5 feet 6 inches in height, weighed 123 lbs and had fair hair, blue eyes and brown hair. Having been passed as Fit by the Doctor he was assigned no. 2742 and the rank of Private.

Initially assigned to the Depot at Halifax he was posted to the 1st Battalion on 12 October 1890. Promotion to Lance Corporal followed on 30 September 1891 with advancement to Corporal coming on 4 November 1892. On 5 July 1894 he was posted to the 2nd Battalion, this coincided with his departure for foreign service – on this occasion South Africa – on the same day, aboard H.M.S. Tamar . Up until this point in time Moir (for thus we shall call him for the present) had enjoyed indifferent health. A bout of Tonsilitis laid him low at York on 8 October 1890. After thirteen days he was released from hospital to duty only to be admitted at the same place on 1 February 1891 with a rather more serious ailment – Primary Syphilis – after 55 days treatment it was found that he had been incorrectly diagnosed, suffering instead with an ulcer of the penis and suppuration of the left gland. The usual dosage of mercury seems to have remedied the situation.

On 4 July 1893, at Dover, he was admitted to hospital with an ulcer on his penis again. This required 16 days of treatment before he rejoined his unit. Whilst aboard ship he was treated for Gonorrhoea, no doubt a parting gift from the ladies of the night at Dover.

Having landed in South Africa on 18 August 1894 Moir and the regiment were posted to Zululand which, although the Zulu King Cetewayo and his impis had been decimated in battle, was a seething hotbed of discontent with rival Zulu factions striving for supremacy in the vacuum created by the King’s banishment. On 23 September 1894 Moir was promoted to the rank of Lance Sergeant, followed by a further rise in the ranks to Sergeant on 23 March 1895. Medically the heat and climate brought without the inevitable complications – on 28 November he was treated for a Sore Throat.

The regiment moved to Fort Napier in Pietermaritzburg on 12 September 1895 and, on 5 December, he was treated for an Abscess.

Meanwhile trouble was brewing to the north where Rhodes and his band of intrepid Pioneers had continued to encroach on land traditionally the property of the Ndebele and the Mashona tribes. The first Matabele War of 1893 had ended in a decisive victory for the British forces but they failed to press home their advantage, leaving the ground fertile for further upheaval and revolt. This came in 1896 with a fresh wave of settler murders and 150 men of the 2nd Battalion, West Riding Regiment, Moir included, were deployed to the trouble spot to assist in the vanquishing of the foe. Sailing from Durban on the troopship Inyoni which had been chartered by the BSA Company they arrived in the port of Beira, Portuguese East Africa in July 1896. Then followed a lull whilst permission was awaited from the Portuguese to land troops at Beira. Permission granted, they marched inland, braving the tropical pestilences which could so easily have derailed their efforts, joining up with the Mashonaland Field Force at Umtali.

Moir, having qualified as Mounted Infantry in 1894, would have been one of the detachment of 98 men of the West Riding regiment’s M.I. who left Macloutsie for Tuli on 22 July 1896. Under Captain Laing they affected a junction with General Carrington at Umzinwani from where they advanced right through the Matoppo Hills to Usher’s Farm without encountering any rebels. From there they moved to Belingwe escorting a supply of provisions.

After much skirmishing the Ndebele were resoundingly defeated and Moir and his regiment returned to South Africa where they remained until sailing for Home on 5 March 1898 – 3 years and 242 days since they had arrived in the southern tip of Africa. This was Moir’s first expedition to the country but it wasn’t to be his last.

Back in England he wasted no time in tying the marital knot, taking for his wife Agnes Bowden in the church of St Peter and St Paul’s in Rishton, Lancashire on 11 April 1898. Their first-born came along slightly less than nine months later – on 7 November 1898 – possibly a compelling reason for the swiftness of their nuptials. It would seem that he was still passing himself off as Frederick Moir for it was that name used on the Marriage Establishment.

On 6 May 1898 he was placed on the Army Reserve, his 7 Years with the Colours having come to an end. In what was a paper exercise, he rejoined as a Sergeant the very next day.

When he left South African shores in 1898 Moir probably had no inkling that, after a lapse of two years, he would be sailing back again. Since his departure relations between the two Boer Republics of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal and Imperial Britain had taken a turn for the worse. This spilled over into a declaration of war between the parties concerned on 11 October 1899. Initially the British military presence fared rather poorly against a Boer force which was highly mobile and better armed.

The call went out for reinforcements to come to the aid of the men in South Africa and Moir and the West Riding Regiment were reasonably quick to respond. Notice was received about January 1st, 1900, that the 3rd Battalion (to whom he was attached) would be embodied on the 17th, and would proceed to Cork, but only 340 non-commissioned officers and men were to be called up, in the first instance. These assembled at Halifax on the 17th, and proceeded the same night from Pellon Station to Cork, via Manchester, Holyhead and Dublin, arriving at Cork about 9 a.m. on the following day. On February 15th the Battalion received orders to hold itself in readiness to embark for South Africa on February 25th, but this date was subsequently altered to the 27th on which day the Battalion embarked at Queenstown on the S.S. " Goorkha " of the Union Line.

Having arrived in Table Bay about 2 p.m. on March 20th, they disembarked on the 23rd, proceeding the same night by troop train to Worcester (109 miles from Cape Town). Moir was destined to serve only in the Cape Colony, being denied the opportunity to take the fight to the Boers in the rest of the country. All Companies on detachment scattered throughout the Western Cape were ordered to proceed to Simon's Town, on July 2nd, where they relieved the 4th West Yorkshire Regiment there. Headquarters followed on July 4th. On arrival at Simon's Town, the Battalion took over charge of 1,500 prisoners of war, and remained in charge of them, until departure, the number of prisoners of war varying during the whole period from 1,300 to 2,000 .

On January 4th and 5th 1901, the prisoners of war, in charge of the Battalion , were all placed on board transports in Simon's Bay. While quartered at Cape Town, the Bubonic Plague, which had become epidemic in the Cape Peninsula during January and February, broke out in the huts, next to Delhi Lines. No case, however, occurred in the Battalion . A battalion rat-catcher was appointed, and was successful in capturing several hundred, but found none infected with plague.

The duties at Green Point were very heavy, upwards of 200 officers , N.C.O.'s and men being frequently on duty each day, either prisoners of war guard, inlying picquet, brigade fire picquet, or Garrison guard. Those stationed nearer the fighting had a close call or two – “on July 17th, about 9 p.m., five men, under cover of a dark night, approached the sangar on Wellington Hill, overlooking the camp, but were driven off. At the same time a similar attempt was made upon the Blockhouse, at the north entrance of the town, but the enemy made off on being fired upon by our sentry. Two days before Commandant Malan, with some of his men, had been reported to be in hiding, in the mountains, 16 miles east of Beaufort West.

An attack was made on the detachment, at Richmond Road, where Lieutenant W. A. Ross was in command, on September 13th, at about 9 p.m. The enemy was driven off , after an interchange of heavy firing. There were no casualties among our men on either occasion.”

About November 27th 1901 the Battalion took over the Blockhouse section-Beaufort West to Victoria Road-and occupied the Blockhouses, as fast as they were built. The equipping and rationing of these Blockhouses entailed a great amount of labour.

On 4 January 1902, 3 officers and 150 N.C.O.'s and men ("A," "I" and "G" Companies) were sent at 20 minutes' notice to occupy the intermediate trenches of the 3rd East Surrey Regiment, between Three Sisters and Victoria Road. The men only took one blanket and a waterproof sheet, besides their equipment, as it was understood they would only be out a few days, but they were detained over four weeks without shelter and with scanty rations. In the meantime Headquarters moved to Carnarvon, taking all stores, etc. , with them, and the trench party was not relieved until January 28th.

During the whole time the Battalion occupied the Blockhouses, and also during the building of them, the enemy were hanging around in small parties on adjoining kopjes, and the incessant alarms and constant sniping of the enemy, together with the doubted loyalty of the farmers, involved heavy duties on the men, which they carried out well and cheerfully. Several natives attached to blockhouses were shot, but the only casualty in the Battalion was Private Broadbent, who was shot while on sentry. The enemy had crept close to the barbed wire, under cover of darkness, thinking to surprise the Blockhouse. Private Broadbent gave the alarm, and was unfortunately shot through the mouth before he could get under cover, inside the Blockhouse.

About March a telegram was received from Officer Commanding Western District for the Battalion to proceed home. Moir had been admitted to the hospital in Wynberg, Cape Town on 13 February 1902 with Orchitis (inflammation of one or both testicles usually associated with sexually transmitted diseases.) on this occasion though he was not guilty of any sexual misconduct, his malaise being the result of an injury sustained at Carnarvon on 8 October 1901. A Court of Enquiry held at Carnarvon had recommended his return to the United Kingdom.

He boarded the S.S. Dilwara on 13 March 1902 and, once on English soil, was posted back to the 1st Battalion, with whom he was promoted to Colour Sergeant on 22 October 1903. His Boer War medals were issued off the rolls dated at Beaufort West (15 July 1901 ) and York (4 January 1903). On both he is recorded as “J. Hart” signalling that he had, at last, rediscovered his roots.

On 5 October 1905 he sailed for a spell of duty in India, stationed at Lebong and remaining there until returning home on 29 May 1906. This was to be his last overseas “tour” for some time and he spent the next four years and 113 days before his final discharge, at his own request, on 19 August 1910 on Home Service. In 1909 he had been awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct Medal to the surname Hart.

During this time he was posted to the Permanent Staff of the 3rd (Volunteer Battalion) of the West Riding Regiment on 1 November 1907. This was followed by a posting to the 5th Staffordshire Battalion as a Colour Sergeant on 7 May 1908. He was appointed Acting Sergeant Major on 1 April 1909 but deprived of this rank and placed under arrest awaiting trial on 24 June 1910. He was released in the rank of Colour Sergeant on 16 July 1910 – what offence he was charged with is not disclosed in his file.

The 1911 England census has him and his wife and three children living at 206 Longwood Road, Huddersfield, Yorkshire. He was employed as a Commercial Traveller in the Cocoa trade.

Having served his King and country for over 20 years it would have been quite acceptable in the eyes of most were Hart (we shall now call him by his given name) to fade away into the sunset. Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany had other ideas. On 4 August 1914 he took his country to war with Great Britain and her Allies. Hart, now all of 43 years, wasted no time in coming forward to do his bit. He completed Short Service with the Colours attestation papers at Halifax on 25 August 1914 for service with the Suffolk Regiment (as per his papers.)

Confirming that he was an Army Pensioner and that he had “served in different countries as a soldier,” he was described as being 5 feet 10 inches in height, weighing in at 150 lbs and with a fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. Having been passed as Fit by the Doctor he was assigned no. 10988 and his old rank of Colour Sergeant with his old regiment, the 3rd Battalion, West Riding Regiment. On the same day, however, he was appointed a Company Sergeant Major and posted to the 8th (Service Battalion) of the W.R.R. and it with this Battalion that he was deployed to the Dardanelles (Gallipoli) as a member of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on 21 August 1915 (his papers state from 2 July 1915.)

The regiment was based at Witley Camp, Godalming, Surrey from where they entrained at Milford for Liverpool on 2nd July 1915. From there they embarked aboard the Aquitania and, having sailed on 3rd July 1915, arrived at Mudros Harbour, Island of Lemnos at 7am on 10th July 1915. From there they sailed on the Rowan for the island of Imbros on 23rd July 1915 and from Imbros to Suvla Bay, Gallipoli on 6th August 1915, where they landed at 'B' Beach.



A fortnight later Hart was Severely Wounded in Action - the 32nd Infantry Brigade War Diary informs that the 8th Duke of Wellington Regiment had the following casualties for the period 19th to 22nd August 1915:

Killed – 14 Other Ranks
Wounded – 4 Officers & 149 Other Ranks
Missing – 2 Officers & 47 Other Ranks

At this time the battalion was involved in the attack on Ismail Oglu Tepe (the 'W' Hills) and Hetman Chair (Hetman's Field). They commenced in reserve but were sent forward with the 9th West Yorkshires getting to a position north of Hetman Chair where the enemy's resistance could not be overcome and they fell back towards the southern slopes of Green Hill – see page 347 of the Official History – Military Operations Gallipoli, Vol.II.

The War Diary entry for the 21st August 1915 opens with “3.0pm Attack on village of Anafarta”.

In broad terms this attack was launched against Scimitar Hill (by the 29th Division) and against the 'W' Hills (by the 11th Division). The historian Rhodes James describes it as “in terms of numbers … the greatest battle fought in the campaign.” He also quotes Winston Churchill saying that it was “the largest action fought upon the Peninsula.” The entry for the next day, the 22nd August 1915, says that they were held, despite heavy artillery fire. Then, without any further elaboration, the entry for 23rd August says the battalion was “On beach resting.”



Hart was certainly not one of the men on the beach resting. His wounds were severe enough to warrant his repatriation to England on 28 October 1915. After recuperating he was posted to the Depot on 11 November 1915 where, on 20 February 1917, he was promoted to Acting Warrant Officer Class I. A transfer as Acting Regimental Sergeant Major of the 14th Suffolk Regiment followed with effect from 18 August 1917 before he returned to the 8th Battalion West Riding Regiment in the same rank a few days later.

Hart’s military odyssey finally ended with his transfer to the Reserve on 18 December 1919. His days in uniform were over and he returned to the bosom of his family at 888 New Oak View, Linthwaite, Huddersfield. According to the 1921 census he was living at 5 Hawkins Street, Oxford. He was employed as a Writer with the R.O.A.C. Depot at Didcot.

Having faded from the spotlight Hart’s was next seen in the 1939 Register where he was the licenced victualler of The Pound Inn at Wantage.

This true servant of the Crown passed away at The Pound at the age of 75 on 23 July 1947. The cause of death was Cerebral Thrombosis and Acute Sclerosis.
Acknowledgements:

- The Great War Forum for info on Suvla Bay/Scimitar Hill and War Diary excerpts
- Find My Past & Ancestry for service papers, census and death data.
- Records of the 3rd Battalion West Riding Regiment by Captain N.H. Moore

Hello Rory
A cracking group, and as always, a superb detailed account to match.

All the best

Dave......