Orders, Decorations and Medals

General Service 1918-62, 1 clasp, Palestine (7584502 Cpl. V. Moore, R.A.O.C.), minor edge bruise, very fine £150-200

Vernon John Norman Moore was killed in action in the defence of Malta on 25 April 1942, while attached to the 2nd Battalion, Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment. His unit had been assigned to the defence of Luqa airfield, where, on Saturday 25 April 1942, the Lufwaffe attacked in force. Malta: The Spitfire Year, by Christopher Shores and Brian Cull, takes up the story:

‘Up to 85 Ju. 88s and 15 Ju. 87s were reported attacking Luqa on the morning of Saturday the 25th, a raid which was not opposed by the fighters. The building commonly know as the Poor House (formerly an old people’s home now used to billet airmen and soldiers) was hit and an R.A.F. officer seriously injured, while five soldiers of the West Kents were killed and four airmen wounded on the airfield. Bofors gunners scored a hit on a low flying Bf. 109 of 5/JG 53, from which Fw. Alexander Kehlbuth baled out and landed in a nearby field to become a prisoner. Soon after midday a further 80 Ju. 88s and Ju. 87s returned. Luqa’s Poor House now being totally destroyed and a Wellington of 148 Squadron badly damaged ... ’

Moore, who originally became attached to the 2nd Royal West Kents in Palestine in January 1938 (T.N.A. WO100/509 refers), was 27 years of age, and is buried in a collective grave in Pieta Military Cemetery, near Msida.

Fitted with copy clasp