Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The important Waterloo medal awarded to Captain and Lieutenant-Colonel The Hon. Robert Moore, who commanded the Light Company of the 2nd Battalion, Coldstream Guards at Hougoumont, and was severely wounded during Macdonell's first counter-attack on the French, 18 June 1815

Waterloo 1815 (Capt. Hon. R. Moore 2nd Batt. Coldstream Gds.) fitted with original steel clip and bar suspension, some light edge bruises and contact marks, otherwise very fine £6,000-£8,000

Dix Noonan Webb, March 2002.

The Honourable Robert Moore was born on 11 July 1793, second son of Stephen, 2nd Earl of Mountcashel, by Margaret, eldest daughter of the 2nd Earl of Kingston. He was appointed Ensign in the 2nd Battalion of the Coldstream Guards on 21 March 1811, and was promoted to Lieutenant and Captain on 2 June 1814. He served in the Peninsula and was present at the battle of Vittoria, crossing of the Bidassoa, battles of Nivelle and Nive, crossing of the Adour and the investment of Bayonne. He does not, however, appear to have either claimed or received the M.G.S. medal.

At Waterloo he commanded the Light Company of the 2nd Coldstream Guards which was so highly distinguished in the defence of the chateau of Hougoumont. Still only a young lad of 18 years, Moore was severely wounded during the battle on 18th June. The Light Company had only one other officer, Ensign Henry Gooch; the senior captain, William Lovelace Walton, being elsewhere engaged as Acting Adjutant of the Battalion. At the battle they served in Major-General Sir John Byng’s 2nd British Brigade, as part of Cooke’s 1st British Infantry (Guards) Division.

Waterloo 1815 by John Franklin offers further detail on Moore's service during the battle:

‘The two Light Companies of the 2nd Guards Brigade commanded by Sir John Byng were sent down to Hougoumont on the evening of the 17th, and remained vigilant throughout the night. On the morning of the 18th, following an inspection by the Duke of Wellington, they were deployed in the kitchen garden to the west of the chateau and farm complex. The officers and men of the 3rd Foot Guards stood at the northern end of the small path, close to the entrance which faced the Allied line. The two companies were led by Lieutenant-Colonel James Macdonell of the Coldstream Guards, as they had been at Quatre Bras. At the outset of the campaign the two Light Companies had numbered over 270 officers and men. They had incurred only seven wounded (all from the 3rd Foot Guards) during the fighting at the crossroads and demonstrated the élan associated with Household troops. Consequently, they were prepared for the initial assault upon Hougoumont, which was undertaken by the three battalions of 1er Régiment Léger... The battalions totalled almost 1,500 officers and men. The French advanced behind a cloud of tiraillers and the 2nd and 3rd Battalions drove the Brunswick and Nassau-Usingen skirmishers from the wood. They moved rapidly towards the buildings, but the fire from behind the wall surrounding the formal garden and the windows of the property halted their progress. Macdonell instantly ordered the left sub-division of the
Coldstream Guards and the right sub-division of the 3rd Foot Guards, to drive their opponents back into the wood. The resolute sortie was crowned with success. Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Dashwood and Captains George Evelyn and John Elrington of the 3rd Foot Guards advanced at the head of their men. They were supported by the Coldstream Guards under Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Wyndham and Captain the Hon. Robert Moore. However, upon reaching the edge of the wood they were subjected to close-range fire from the enemy. Dashwood and Moore were wounded as the fighting intensified, yet the gallant band maintained their ground in the face of the French onslaught until being taken in the flank. At this moment they were compelled to retire in a state of confusion. The Guards fell back amidst a hail of musketry towards their reserves, and the open gates at the end of the lane.’

Moore was promoted to Captain and Lieutenant-Colonel on 1 April 1824, and on the same date went on Half-pay. He died unmarried on 2 November 1856.