2718497 Maurice MORIARTY, DCM, 1 Irish Guards

Discussion in 'The Brigade of Guards' started by dbf, Aug 17, 2011.

  1. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    The National Archives | DocumentsOnline | Image Details
    Name Moriarty, Morris
    Rank: Guardsman
    Service No: 2718497
    Regiment: 1 Battalion Irish Guards
    Theatre of Combat or Operation: Italy
    Award: Distinguished Conduct Medal
    Date of Announcement in London Gazette: 15 June 1944
    Date 1944
    Catalogue reference WO 373/6

    LG - Viewing Page 2853 of Issue 36563

    24th Guards Brigade, 1st British Division, 6 American Corps
    2718497 Guardsman, Lance-Corporal Maurice Morris MORIARTY, 1st Battalion IRISH GUARDS

    This Lance-Corporal was stretcher-bearer to No. 2 Company.

    During the night attack 29/30 January, 1944, the company suffered heavy casualties when it came up against a belt of defensive fire, laid by 8 enemy Machine guns in the narrow strip between the ANZIO-ALBANO road and the railway line running parallel to it.

    Corporal MORIARTY worked tirelessly and unsparingly all night, dragging wounded men from under Machine gun fire with complete disregard for his own safety.

    During the preliminary artillery concentration and subsequent enemy night attack on night 3/4 February, this Corporal again showed himself completely fearless in attending to the wounded and taking them to positions of comparative safety. After the attempt to form a strong point round the road, cutting and railway bridge had been abandoned, Corporal MORIARTY remained behind by the road, tending to the wounded, ignoring the shells and bullets which were now falling and flying directly up the road from enemy positions on the high ground on the other side of the ANZIO-ALBANO road.

    Single-handed, under heavy fire, this Corporal collected up to a dozen wounded men and put them between the bank and some carriers. The position was over-run by the enemy who ordered this Corporal to march off to the rear as a Prisoner of War.

    This, Corporal MORIARTY refused to do, although threatened with a revolver, and had not a German soldier fortunately been wounded at this moment, he would probably have been shot. He remained with the wounded all the rest of that day and night and the following day, refusing to leave our wounded, although the whole position was subjected to heavy and accurate shelling by our 25-pounders and medium guns.

    The following night, with remarkable resource and initiative, he seized the opportunity to load the wounded on to two carriers, and together with another man, drove them away suddenly in a successful dash for the SCOTS GUARDS lines.

    The tireless devotion of this Corporal to wounded comrades and his complete disregard of his own personal safety or the consequences to himself of his courageous actions are an exceptional example of gallantry, self-sacrifice and resource.

    I strongly recommend Corporal MORIARTY for the immediate award of the D.C.M.

    signed C.A. Montagu-Douglas-Scott, Lieut.-Colonel, Officer Commanding, 1st Battalion Irish Guards

    Granted an Immediate D.C.M.

    signed H.R. Alexander, General, Commander-in-Chief, Allied Central Mediterranean Force

    Screen shot 2011-08-15 at 17.57.37.png

    Lance-Corporal Moriarty’s name and citation appears in the publication Volunteers from Eire who have won Distinctions while serving with the British Forces. It states that he was born in DINGLE.
     
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2019
  2. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Army Number: 2718497
    Rank: Guardsman
    Name: M MORIARTY
    Unit: 1 Irish Guards
    GSM & Clasp: GSM, Palestine Clasp 1936 - 1939
    TNA Reference: WO 100/503
    Notes: Date of Death 24 February 1944
     
    Last edited: Sep 28, 2019
  3. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD


    PERSONAL INFORMATION

    Name: MORIARTY, Maurice
    DOB:
    Place of Birth: Dingle, Co. Kerry
    Residence: Cricklewood, Middlesex. [from Medal Recommendation: London, N.I2]
    Trade/Profession:
    Parents: Maurice and Elizabeth Moriarty, of Dingle, Co. Kerry, Irish Republic
    Census:
    Wife: Mary Moriarty, of Cricklewood, Middlesex.
    Photo:


    SERVICE
    Army/Personal Number: 2718497
    Rank: Lance-Corporal
    Regiment/Battalion: Irish Guards, 1st Battalion
    As at 01/09/1939:
    Enlisted:
    Promotions:
    Aquittance Roll:
    Soldier's Will:


    CASUALTY
    CWGC Link: Casualty Details
    CWGC Certificate:
    MORIARTY_MAURICE.jpg
    Theatre of War: Italy
    Date of Death: 24/02/1944
    Age at Death: 26
    Casualty Type: Killed in Action

    Cemetery : ANZIO WAR CEMETERY
    Cemetery Plan:
    ANZIO WAR CEMETERY PLAN m001.jpg
    Cemetery Photo:
    Grave Reference: I, N, 6.
    Headstone Photo:
    Grave Registration:
    MORIARTY M, 1 doc5648915.JPG
    Headstone:
    MORIARTY M, 2 doc3759859.JPG
    Inscription:
    Our hearts cannot tell
    How we miss him
    In our lonely home today.
    His sorrowing wife and child.


    Army Casualty List (WO 417):
    2718497 Guardsman Moriarty M 1944 Irish Guards
    2718497 Guardsman Moriarty M 1945 Irish Guards
    The Times Casualty List:


    PRISONER/MISSING
    Missing Personnel File Details:


    MEDALS
    Gallantry Award/Honour: Distinguished Conduct Medal
    Theatre of Combat or Operation: Italy
    The Times, 16th June 1944: D.C.M. - L/Cpl. M. MORIARTY, Irish Guards (since killed in action)
    Screen Shot 2016-10-12 at 01.05.29.png
    Volunteers from Eire:
    Lance-Corporal Moriarty’s name and citation appears in the publication Volunteers from Eire who have won Distinctions while serving with the British Forces. It states that he was born in DINGLE.
    Screen Shot 2016-10-12 at 07.47.05.png
    Screen Shot 2016-10-12 at 07.47.16.png
    Screen Shot 2016-10-12 at 07.47.24.png

    London Gazette: 15th June 1944
    https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36563/supplement/2853/data.pdf
    War Office, 15th June, 1944
    The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy —
    Distinguished Conduct Medal.
    No. 2718497 Lance Corporal Maurice Moriarty, Irish Guards (London, N.I2) (since killed in action)

    TNA Link: Recommendation for Award for Moriarty, Morris Rank: Guardsman Service No: ... | The National Archives

    Citation:
    "24th Guards Brigade, 1st British Division, 6 American Corps
    2718497 Guardsman, Lance-Corporal Maurice Morris MORIARTY, 1st Battalion IRISH GUARDS

    This Lance-Corporal was stretcher-bearer to No. 2 Company.

    During the night attack 29/30 January, 1944, the company suffered heavy casualties when it came up against a belt of defensive fire, laid by 8 enemy Machine guns in the narrow strip between the ANZIO-ALBANO road and the railway line running parallel to it.

    Corporal MORIARTY worked tirelessly and unsparingly all night, dragging wounded men from under Machine gun fire with complete disregard for his own safety.

    During the preliminary artillery concentration and subsequent enemy night attack on night 3/4 February, this Corporal again showed himself completely fearless in attending to the wounded and taking them to positions of comparative safety. After the attempt to form a strong point round the road, cutting and railway bridge had been abandoned, Corporal MORIARTY remained behind by the road, tending to the wounded, ignoring the shells and bullets which were now falling and flying directly up the road from enemy positions on the high ground on the other side of the ANZIO-ALBANO road.

    Single-handed, under heavy fire, this Corporal collected up to a dozen wounded men and put them between the bank and some carriers. The position was over-run by the enemy who ordered this Corporal to march off to the rear as a Prisoner of War.

    This, Corporal MORIARTY refused to do, although threatened with a revolver, and had not a German soldier fortunately been wounded at this moment, he would probably have been shot. He remained with the wounded all the rest of that day and night and the following day, refusing to leave our wounded, although the whole position was subjected to heavy and accurate shelling by our 25-pounders and medium guns.

    The following night, with remarkable resource and initiative, he seized the opportunity to load the wounded on to two carriers, and together with another man, drove them away suddenly in a successful dash for the SCOTS GUARDS lines.

    The tireless devotion of this Corporal to wounded comrades and his complete disregard of his own personal safety or the consequences to himself of his courageous actions are an exceptional example of gallantry, self-sacrifice and resource.

    I strongly recommend Corporal MORIARTY for the immediate award of the D.C.M.

    signed C.A. Montagu-Douglas-Scott, Lieut.-Colonel, Officer Commanding, 1st Battalion Irish Guards

    Granted an Immediate D.C.M.

    signed H.R. Alexander, General, Commander-in-Chief, Allied Central Mediterranean Force"

    Recommendation:
    MORIARTY M, 1.png MORIARTY M, 2.png
    Campaign Medals:
    Medal Roll Details:


    REFERENCES
    War Diaries: War Diary: 1st Battalion IRISH GUARDS, September 1939 - July 1944
    Archive Files: WO 417
    Publications: IG History - pgs. 263, 267, 284, 331, 354, 356

    Accounts:
    The Times, April 6, 1944

    War Memorial:
    Newspaper:
    The Irish Independent, July 11, 1945:
    MORIARTY - Cpl. Mossie Moriarty, 1st Batt., Irish Guards, awarded D.C.M. killed in action, Anzio Beachhead, Italy, on February 24, 1944, aged 26 years, son of Mr. and Mrs. Moriarty, Mall, Dingle; sadly missed. R.I.P.
    Websites:
    Irish Guards: Roll of Honour - WWII Open Resource Group
    Irish Guards: Gallantry Awards & Honours - WWII Open Resource Group
    Volunteers from Eire who have won distinctions ...
    MORIARTY, MAURICE, DCM, 1BN
     
    Last edited: Oct 17, 2019
    CL1 likes this.
  4. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    The Times, April 6, 1944:
    Screen shot 2013-02-27 at 19.29.00.png Screen shot 2013-02-27 at 19.29.11.png
     
  5. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    From The Irish Independent, July 11, 1945:
    MORIARTY - Cpl. Mossie Moriarty, 1st Batt., Irish Guards, awarded D.C.M. killed in action, Anzio Beachhead, Italy, on February 24, 1944, aged 26 years, son of Mr. and Mrs. Moriarty, Mall, Dingle; sadly missed. R.I.P.


    Casualty

    Lance Corporal MORIARTY, MAURICE
    Service Number 2718497
    Died 24/02/1944
    Aged 26
    1st Bn. Irish Guards
    D C M
    Son of Maurice and Elizabeth Moriarty, of Dingle, Co. Kerry, Irish Republic; husband of Mary Moriarty, of Cricklewood, Middlesex.
    INSCRIPTION: OUR HEARTS CANNOT TELL HOW WE MISS HIM IN OUR LONELY HOME TODAY. HIS SORROWING WIFE AND CHILD
    Buried at ANZIO WAR CEMETERY
    Location: Italy
    Cemetery/memorial reference: I, N, 6.
    See cemetery plan

    Grave Registration
    MORIARTY M, 1 doc5648915.JPG
    Headstone:
    MORIARTY M, 2 doc3759859.JPG
     
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2019
  6. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    dbf, hope you don't mind me adding this file to your thread. It really is a shame that he was killed when he was. The photo was taken on Tuesday, 28th June, 2022, between the hours of 1325-1515. The weather looks has its going to rain of which it did not. It was rather hot, and I was sweating profusely whilst taking photos of this row of headstones. Its not every day that anyone gets the time to take quite a few photos of all of the headstones in this lovely cemetery. It was fabulous being able to take a photo of them all..

    2718497 L. CPL M. MORIARTY..jpg

    I was going to add the war diaries from 20-25 Feb 44.. You have taken the time to type them in the past, so I will give them a miss.

    Wrong place, wrong time.

    Edit.. Over three days.. Plus one hour on another day.

    Regards,
    Stu.
     
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2022
    Tullybrone and dbf like this.
  7. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    Thanks for adding the photo, much obliged.
    Here's my list of threads for Guards at Anzio War Cemetery, so if you have any others to add, I'd appreciate it if/when you have the time.
    Guards - Italy Cemeteries list
     
  8. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    I would love to do this (no use them in my phone, or laptop).. One slight problem, I would have to resize them all if you get my meaning? I was going to start my own thread and show them all. What do you think I should do? I'm not going to spend many, many hours in resizing all of them. I need to get them off my phone first..

    I think one or two members are able to post files that don't need resizing on the board.;)

    Regards,
    Stu.
     
  9. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    No worries, whatever you decide.
     
  10. Stuart Avery

    Stuart Avery In my wagon & not a muleteer.

    Owen has kindly informed me that resizing is not needed has the software does it itself. Good to go has when I get the chance.;)

    Cheers
    Owen.
     

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