Main CPGW Record
Surname: MOORBY
Forename(s): John William
Place of Birth: Skipton, Yorkshire
Service No: R/32193
Rank: Rifleman
Regiment / Corps / Service: King’s Royal Rifle Corps
Battalion / Unit: 12th (Service) Battalion
Division: 20th (Light) Division
Age: 19
Date of Death: 1917-02-15
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 13 A and 13 B.
CWGC Cemetery: ---
CWGC Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: SKIPTON, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
John William Moorby was the son of Welbury and Edith Elizabeth Moorby, née Duckworth and brother of Nurse Hilda Moorby (q.v.). Both of their parents were born at Skipton, Yorkshire.
1901 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: 27, George Street - John W. Moorby, aged 3 years, born Skipton, son of Welbury and Edith E. Moorby.
1911 Skipton, Yorkshire Census: 27, George Street - John William Moorby, aged 13 years, born Skipton, son of Welbury and Edith Elizabeth Moorby.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte John W. Moorby, R/32193, K. R. Rif. C.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte John W. Moorby, R32193, 17th [sic] Bn K. R. Rif. C.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte John William Moorby, R/32193, 12th Bn K.R.R.C. Date and Place of Death: On or since 15.2.17. Death Presm'd. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Father - Welbury. £4 15s. 9d.
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
MOORBY, Rifleman John Wm., aged 19, K.R.R., son of Mrs. Moorby, 27, George Street, Skipton, killed Feb. 15, 1917.
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Rifleman John William MOORBY
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: King’s Royal Rifle Corps
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 20th (Light) Division
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View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
04 January 1918
MOORBY – Missing since February 15th, 1917, and death now officially presumed on that date on the Western Front, Rifleman John William Moorby, King’s Royal Rifles, son of Mr. and Mrs. Moorby, George Street, Skipton, aged I9 years.
04 January 1918
MORE SKIPTON SACRIFICES – MISSING TEN MONTHS, NOW PRESUMED KILLED: RIFLEMAN J. W. MOORBY, SKIPTON
After being missing since February 15th 1917, Rifleman John William Moorby, Kings Royal Rifles, son of Mr. and Mrs. Moorby, 27 George Street, Skipton, is officially presumed to have met his death on the battlefield on that date, an intimation to this effect having been received from the Records Office, Winchester. Mrs. Moorby, some time ago, had a letter from her son’s Commanding Officer stating that Rifleman Moorby was seen to fall after coming out of the trenches. When the officer sent a search party to look for him, however, he could not be found, and it was thought that he might have fallen into the hands of the enemy.
Rifleman Moorby was only 19 years of age. He enlisted in August 1916, and had only been in France about two months when he was reported missing. In civil life he was a grocer’s assistant, and formerly worked for Messrs. Carr and Co. Skipton, afterwards entering the service of Messrs. Brown and Son, Harrogate. He was for many years a member of the Parish Church Choir at Skipton, and when he went to Harrogate he joined the choir of the St. Luke’s Church. He also joined one of the church choirs at Sheerness whilst in training.
11 October 1918
MOORBY – October 8th at the Alexandra Park Nursing Home, Stockport, Cheshire, Nurse Hilda Moorby, of 27, George Street, Skipton, aged 23 years Funeral at Waltonwrays Cemetery on Saturday, October 12th, leaving the house at 1 p.m. Friends please accept this (the only) intimation.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
04 January 1918
MOORBY – Presumably killed in action, Feb. 15th, 1917, or since, Rifleman John William Moorby, of the King’s Royal Rifles, son of Mrs. Moorby, of 27, George Street, Skipton, aged 19.
04 January 1918
SKIPTON
RIFLEMAN J.W. MOORBY PRESUMED KILLED
Rifleman John William Moorby, of the King’s Royal Rifles, son of Mrs. Moorby, of 27, George Street, Skipton, who has been reported missing since February 15th last, is now presumed by the Record Office to have died on that date or since. Upon receiving the first intimation that her son was missing, Mrs. Moorby wrote to the War Office, but she again heard that her son was reported missing. Later a letter was received from Rifleman Moorby’s officer stating that he was known to have come out of the trenches with the other men but had dropped. He sent a party back to find him, but they were unsuccessful, and he hoped that for the family’s sake he had got into the enemy’s hands. The news of his death on February 15th or since was only received on Thursday of last week. Rifleman Moorby, who was 19 years of age, enlisted in August, 1916, and had only been out in France about two months. He was formerly a grocer’s assistant at Messrs. Brown and Sons, Harrogate. He had been for many years a member of the Parish Church choir, also of the St. Luke’s Church choir, Harrogate, and while in training at Sheerness he became a member of a church choir there. He was also a former member of the Skipton Church Institute.
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