Moon Albert 1892

Albert Moon
1892-1971

Father Nm: Charles Edward Moon, b. 1861, Maryborough, Vic, d. 1932, Prahan, Vic

Mother Nm: Amelia Emma Wood, b. 1858, East Geelong, Vic, d. 1952, Coburg, Vic

Marriage Dt:  1919, Victoria

K comments: Son Charles Leslie served in WW2 with the 22nd Battalion in New Guinea.
Spouse comments: Rhoda Annie Blencowe, b. Abt 1891, Cheltenham, Victoria d. 1944, Middle Brighton, Vic

Children.

      1. Nancy Rhoda Moon, b. 1920, Brighton, Vic
      2. Geoffrey Albert Moon, b. 1921, Brighton, Vic
      3. Charles Leslie Moon, b. 4 Mar 1923, Brighton, Vic
Born 1892
1892 Richmond , Victoria

 

WW1

2nd Pioneer Battalion Patch

Albert Moon, 2732, Lance Corporal (Driver) 22nd Bn, 2nd Pioneer Bn AIF

1915
  • 12 July. Butcher age 25 years single. Initially placed with 6th Reinforcements fo 22nd Battalion
  • 27 Ocober. Melbourne, Vic
    Embarked for Egypt with the 6th Reinforcements
1916
  • 12 Mach. It seems on arrival with the 22nd Bn in France transferred to 2nd Bn Pioneers as a driver
  • July.  Battle of Pozieres. This was probably the first major combat action that Albert saw with the 2nd Pioneer Battalion during the Battle of Pozières (late July).
  • August. Battle of Mouquet Farm. Most of the year spent on the Somme took part in the battle of Mouquet Farm in August and then operations throughout the year.
1917
  • March. Bapaume.

    Pioneers from the 2nd Pioneer Battalion at Bapaume, March 1917
  • 8 August. After over a year at the front in France Albert is granted 10 days leave to England.
  • 16 September. Promoted to Lance Corporal (Driver)
1918
  • March-April. German Spring Offensive. Near Villers-Bretonneux, Corbie, and the Somme River. Role: Strengthening trench systems, building defensive positions, and repairing roads under fire
  • May–June: Continued work near Amiens and Heilly, supporting infantry units with logistics and fortifications. Tasks: Dugouts, communication trenches, and light railway maintenance. Often worked alongside the 22nd Battalion, especially in the 2nd Division’s sector
  • 4 July. Battle of Hamel east of Amiens
    • Role: Provided engineering support for the coordinated attack led by General Monash
    • Helped prepare forward positions and supply routes for the assault
  • August–October: Hundred Day Offensive
    • Locations: Amiens, Mont St Quentin, Peronne, and Montbrehain
    • Role: Advanced with infantry, often under fire, building bridges, clearing obstacles, and reinforcing captured positions
  • 5 October. Montbrehain: The 2nd Pioneer Battalions and most celebrated combat role
    • Fought as infantry alongside the 6th Brigade
    • Captured the village and took 400 German prisoners
    • Described by historian William Westerman as the “most successful use of Australian pioneers in a combat capacity in the entire war”
Montbrehain, 14 October 1918. (IWM)
  • After 11 Novermber. The division remained in France and Flanders, primarily in the Somme region, near areas like Villers-Bretonneux, Corbie, and Peronne.
  • Duties included:
    • Guarding supply depots and railheads
    • Clearing battlefield debris and unexploded ordnance
    • Maintaining discipline and readiness in case of renewed hostilities
1919
  • 2 February. Transported from France to England for later return to Australia
  • 13 April. Embarked from  Devonport on the ship Port Sydney for return to Australia.
  • 22 July. Discharged
Medals
Awarded the 1914-15 Star the Victory and British War medals
Sources
    1. Find My Past  and BFA database
    2. National Archives Service Record
    3. Familysearch.com
    4. Montbrehain, 5 October 1918: A case study
    5. “AWM4 14/14/36: May 1919: 2nd Pioneer Battalion”. Unit war diaries.
After the War
1942 Residence

25 Black St. Brighton, Victoria Find all individuals with events at this location
Sons enlistment AIF

 

Death 1957

details

Gallery