The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria

Pair: Private C. F. Moon, 1st Volunteer Battalion, Middlesex Regiment and City of London Imperial Volunteers, later Sergeant, Imperial Yeomanry, and Captain, Royal Berkshire Regiment

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (1403 Pte. C. F. Moon, C.I.V.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (33836 Serjt: C. F. Moon. Imp: Yeo:) very fine (2)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Jack Webb Collection of Medals and Militaria.

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Cecil Frederick Moon was born in Woolwich, London in 1881. A clerk by occupation, he joined the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Middlesex Regiment in 1898 and served in South Africa with the Infantry Battalion of the City Imperial Volunteers. An article in the City Press, 28 July 1900, relates how Moon, together with Private A. F. Symons, were reported missing but had now re-joined; having been sent out to search for wounded, they became cut-off, and thereupon joined Kitchener’s Horse.
After the return of the C.I.V. to England, the Hampstead & Highgate Express, 3rd November reported the following:
‘The Volunteers Welcome - The Highgate detachment of the 1/VB Middlesex Regt. entertained Cpl. Braun, Cpl. Kaye, Ptes. C. E. Saunders, F Kendall, Moon and R. Willocks. L. Cpl. N. Hamilton having been left behind sick at Naaupoort.’

Moon was discharged in England on 20 November 1900 at the time of the C.I.V.’s disbandment. He re-enlisted in the 94th Company, 24th Battalion (Metropolitan Mounted Rifles) Imperial Yeomanry on 8 March 1901 and embarked once more for South Africa on 11 April 1901. Promoted to Sergeant, he served until the conclusion of hostilities. Returning to England, Moon was one of six local C.I.V. men entertained by the Highgate detachment of the 1/V.B., Middlesex Regiment. He attested for the Army Ordnance Corps on 14 August 1903, serving with them as a Private until 24 April 1906 at which time he transferred to the 1st Class Army Reserve. He was struck off the strength of the Reserve, however, after failing to report in June and September 1908.

Following the outbreak of the Great War, Moon attested for the Royal Field Artillery and served with them on the Western Front from 14 July 1915 in the rank of Battery Quarter Master Sergeant. He was commissioned Quarter Master & Lieutenant in the Royal Berkshire Regiment on 16 June 1916 and received promotion to Captain on 12 July 1919. Relinquishing his commission on completion of service on 16 May 1921, he retained his rank, and died in Wandsworth in 1959.