Rupert Vance Moon, V.C.
Rupert Vance Moon, V.C., was born on the 14th of August 1892 at Bacchus Marsh, Victoria. He spent his childhood years at Maffra in Gippsland, Victoria. He attended Kyneton Grammar School. When he finished school Moon began working for the National Bank at Melbourne, where his father, Arthur, worked as an inspector.
Before the First World War Moon had been a member of the 13th Light Horse and 8th Infantry Regiments. He enlisted on the 21st of September 1914, just a few weeks after war broke out. He was posted to the 4th Light Horse Regiment, and served at Gallipoli. Moon was appointed lance corporal on the 23rd of November 1915, becoming a sergeant in early March 1916. Just six months later, on the 9th of September 1916, he was given his first commission as 2nd-lieutenant and was posted to the 58th Battalion as platoon commander.
It was with this Battalion that Moon earned his Victoria Cross on the 12th of May 1917. Following the disastrous attack on the Allied Powers at Bullecourt in April 1917, an attack was launched to reverse this loss. The battles of Bullecourt cost 10 000 lives in just the four Australian divisions. In the later stages of the operation a portion of the 58th Battalion was detailed to assist the British 7th Division. The men from the 58th were ordered to attack a German dugout and a small concrete machine-gun shelter between the opposing trenches. Behind the machine-gun shelter was another German position, the third objective.
Throughout the night before the attack that Australian area had been shelled constantly with a large number of casualties. At 3.15am the battalion’s mortars had been wiped out by enemy artillery.
The attack began under heavy fire. Moon’s platoon had been given the job of ‘taking out’ the machine gun shelter. Despite being wounded, Moon and his platoon managed to drive the German’s out of the shelter, fleeing to the main trench closely followed by Moon and his men.
Moon, having recovered from his wounds, was invested with the Victoria Cross at Buckingham Palace by King George V in August 1917. He briefly returned to Australia in March in 1918 and then in May that year returned to Europe. On 5 February 1919 he was promoted to temporary captain. Moon returned to Australia in June, with his A.I.F appointment ending on 4 October that year.
After returning Moon resumed his work at the bank, but left a few years later to become an accountant with Geelong based Dennys Lascelles, eventually becoming Managing Director.
He married Susan Vincent on 18 December 1931 and had one son and daughter. He lived for many years at Calder Park, Mt. Duneed, and then spent his last years living at Barwon Heads. He died in the late 1980s. Moon's funeral was attended by close friend, former Victorian Premier, Sir Henry Bolte. Mrs. Moon still lives at Barwon Heads.
His portrait, by W. B. McInnes, hangs in the Australian War Memorial. A photograph and miniatures of his medals are on display at the Barwon Heads R.S.L.
Moon’s citation for the Victoria Cross, as reported in the London Gazette, 14 June 1917, reads:
For most conspicuous bravery during an attack on an enemy strong point. His immediate objective was a position in advance of the hostile trench, and thence against the hostile trench itself, after the capture of which it was intended that his men should co-operate in a further assault on a strong point further in rear. Although wounded in the initial advance, he reached his first objective. Leading his men against the trench itself, he was again badly wounded and incapacitated for the moment. He nevertheless inspired and encouraged his men and captured the trench. Lieutenant Moon continued to lead his much diminished command in the general attack with the utmost valour, being again badly wounded, and the attack was successfully pressed home. During the consolidation of the position, this officer was again badly wounded, and it was only after this fourth and severe wound through the face that he consented to retire from the fight. His bravery was magnificent, and largely instrumental in the successful issue against superior numbers, the safeguarding of the flank of the attack, and the capture of many prisoner and machine guns.
Thank you:
Barwon Heads R.S.L, Barwon Heads Golf Club, Geelong Historical Records Centre, Geelong Regional Library Service and Keith Davidson.
Sources:
Lionel Wigmore (ed.), They dared mightily, Australian War Memorial Canberra, 1963.