Africa Star

A six pointed star, uniface, surmounted by a circular band crowned containing within it the Royal monogram 'G.R.I. VI'. Legend: 'THE AFRICA STAR'. Bar: 'NORTH AFRICA 1942-1943'. Awarded to Capt. Harry Allinson Moore, R.N.R. Mounted on a bar with nine other medals. Fitted with a ring and buff ribbon with a central scarlet stripe and a pale and dark blue narrow stripe on opposite sides.

Captain Harry Allinson Moore (1885-1971) OBE, RNR was born in Birkenhead. He obtained his mate's certificate in Liverpool in 1906 and his master's certificate in the same port in 1908. He married Violet Waterman in West Derby, Lancashire in 1910 and the couple subsequently moved to the South of England. From 1913, he joined the RNR. During World War I he served from 1914 to 1915 in torpedo gunboat HMS 'Halcyon' and HMS 'Leander' before demobilisation. He retired from the RNR with the rank of Captain on 23 August 1935. Between the wars he worked for the Canadian Pacific Line as master from 1933. In 1940, in 'The Duchess of Empress of Australia' (now a troopship) and in 1941 'Duchess of Bedford'. After the troopship 'Duchess of Atholl' was torpedoed and sunk by 'U178' on 3 October 1942, Moore, her master, successfully organised the abandonment of the ship and the rescue of 821 survivors with only four casualties. An emergency wireless set in one of the lifeboats successfully made contact with a wireless station on Ascension Island and a rescue vessel was able to track the signals. Moore was awarded the OBE for his actions.

Moore retired from the sea in 1953.

Object Details

ID: MED1275
Collection: Coins and medals
Type: War medal
Display location: Not on display
Events: World War II, 1939-1945
Date made: ca.1945
People: Moore, Harry Allinson
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 44 mm
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