Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Published Biography

Blood Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australian who Served in World War 1, C Verco, A Summers, T Swain & M Jelly. July 2014

Additional Biography

Early Life

Brian Formby Moore was born on the 9th of July 1894 at Mt Barker, to Henry Percival Moore and Eleanor Formby (SA Birth Registration 546/435). Brian’s father was the son of Dr Robert Walter Moore. Henry had been educated at St Peter’s College and was twenty years with the Bank of Australasia before accepting the manager's position at the South Australian Company in 1901, a role he held until 1929.

Schooling

Brian was educated at Queen’s School, North Adelaide then at St Peter’s College. He passed his Primary (1907), Junior (1908 – Special Honours List), Senior (1910 Special Honours List,) and Higher Public (1911 & 1912) Examinations. In 1910 Brian was awarded the St Peter’s College Christchurch Scholarship. In February 1913 Brian was awarded a Government Bursary to attend University. While at St Peter’s, Brian participated in the School Sports and was a member of the St Peter’s Inter-collegiate Football Team in 1912 (all eighteen members of that team went on to serve in WWI).

Adelaide University

Brian commenced studying medicine at Adelaide University in 1913 and his MB BS was conferred in July 1917. Of the fifteen men who became fully qualified medical practitioners in South Australia on the 9th of July 1917, thirteen, including Brian, served in WWI.

University Sport

Cricket
Brian played cricket for Adelaide University B Grade in the 1914/15 and 1915/1916 seasons.
Rifle
Brian was a member of the Adelaide University Rifle Club and shot in a competition against Strathalbyn in May 1915.

World War I

Brian Enlisted on the 7th of August 1917 and embarked on 21 November 1917, aged 23 years. He served in Egypt, France and Belgium and was wounded in the foot in 1918. He returned to Australia on the 4th of September 1918, onboard the Prince Ludwig and his appointment was terminated on the 27th of September 1919.

Post-World War I

After the war Brian’s name was frequently in the papers attending dances and balls.

On the 7th of June 1922 (aged 27), Brian married to Joyce Lillas Ranembe Morgan (aged 24), the daughter of Edward Ranembe Morgan at Christ Church, North Adelaide (SA Marriage Registration 291/96).

Newspaper articles at the time of Brian’s death in 1943, state that he was in general practice in Tumby Bay, however I have been unable to find any newspaper reports from the 1920’s that support the claims.

Brian was the Medical Officer of Health to the Thebarton Corporation from 1922 to 1926. In April 1923, when based at Henley Beach he purchased a 7.5 Citroen motorcar.

Brian and Joyce’s daughter Anne was born on the 10th of September 1923, she was followed by, Briony Jean, born 2nd of September 1928, Virginia J., born 11th of November 1930 and Robert, born 7th of December 1932.

By 1925, Brian was a member of the Kooyonga Golf Club, where he played regularly. He also appears to have played Lawn Bowls as the Lockleys Bowling Club members gave his farewell when he went overseas in 1926.

In September 1926, Brian (formerly of Torrensville) left onboard the Banffshire to go to Great Britain to complete further studies of the eye. Joyce and Anne did not accompany Brian on the trip as Joyce appeared in the social pages of the newspaper until later in November 1926. Joyce and Anne may then have travelled to Britain, as Joyce next appears in the Adelaide papers playing golf in August 1927. Joyce is then mentioned as leaving for Sydney to meet Brian on his returned from London in late November 1927. Sadly, just before Brian arrived back in Australia his brother Harry Formby Moore passed away aged 35.

After Brian returned to Australia, he was appointed honorary ophthalmologist at the Adelaide Children's Hospital. He returned to playing regular golf at Kooyonga.

In February 1932, Brian was pictured after playing in the annual medical cricket match at the University Oval.

In July 1935, Brian’s father passed away followed by his mother, who passed away almost two years later in June 1937.

Brian travelled to England in late 1935. He was away until midway through 1936. Joyce travelled to Colombo and joined Brian on the remaining part of the journey home.

In July 1936, Brian played in the Old Collegians Bridge competition and at a Medical Congress in August 1937, a number of Brian’s other hobbies were highlighted, these included making hooked rugs and woodwork. The family were living at 54 Buxton Street, North Adelaide in August 1937, but were about to move into a new home.

World War II

Brian’s hooked woollen rug was exhibited at the All-Woollen Mannequin Parade, held in aid of the Girl Guides Red Cross Thrift Fund, in August 1940.

Brian and Joyce’s eldest daughter Anne had been at Adelaide University studying for her Bachelor of Arts Degree, but she deferred her studies and joined the WAAAF. She became a driver and was based at Mt Gambier and then Port Pirie. She then received training in Melbourne and was posted back to Adelaide as a meteorological assistant.

In April 1943 a box of Brian’s medical equipment was stolen from his car which was parked outside his home at Buxton Street, North Adelaide.


Death

Tragically Brian passed away, aged 48, on the 11th of April 1943 while at Victor Harbor (SA Death Registration 662/1835). His last abode was at 70 Buxton Street, North Adelaide. he was buried at the North Road Cemetery, Nailsworth.

Joyce passed away on the 4th of February 1961 and was cremated at Centennial Park, Adelaide.

Legacy

Brian & Joyce’s three girls attended Woodlands and son Robert followed his father to St Peters College.

Anne married Ian Baird Dow, son of Mr. And Mrs. John Dow, of Brisbane in December 1947; the couple lived at Prospect, SA.

Briony Moore left for a six month visit to Britain in February 1949. In November 1952, she became engaged to Richard Marten, son of Mr. And Mrs. R. H. Marten, of Sheffield, England. The couple were married in May 1953, at Christ Church, North Adelaide then left on the 28th of May onboard the Orontes for Britain.

Virginia’s debutante dance was held in March 1948. She studied at Adelaide University and was an A Grade hockey player. In 1952, Virginia left for England to visit relatives, travel and do physiotherapy work. She returned to Adelaide in December 1953.

Robert Waters Moore (named for his great grandfather Dr Robert Waters Moore) attended Adelaide University graduating with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science Degree in 1957. Robert’s 21st birthday was celebrated in December 1953 with a party at his cousin’s home.

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (in the period 2015-2019) please see the document attached.

Death Of Dr. Brian Moore
Dr. Brian Fonnby Moore, of
Buxton street, North Adelaide, who
died at Victor Harbor yesterday
after a short illness was born in
South Australia 48 years ago. He
was a Fellow of the Royal College
of Surgeons. He was one of the
leading ophthalmologists in this
State, and at the time of his death
was in partnership with Dr. G. H
Barham Black. For the past 15
years Dr. Moore had been honorary
ophthalmologist at the Adelaide
Children's Hospital. He was the
son of the late Mr. H. P. Moore, one
time secretary of the South Austra
lian Company. He qualified MBS
at the University of Adelaide in
1917, and served abroad with the
AAMC in the last war. He was ap
pointed resident medical officer at
the Adelaide Children's Hospital
after the war, and was later in
general practice at Tumby Bay and
Torrensville. Subsequently, he
went to England and studied
ophthalmology, and after his re
turn practised exclusively in that
branch. He went to England again
in 1935,-returning in the following
year after having passed the
examination for the diploma in
ophthalmic medicine and surgery.
He bas left a wife, three daughters
and a son. The eldest daughter Is
in the WAAAPs.

This story incorporates information from "Blood, Sweat and Tears, Medical Practitioners and Medical Students who Served in World War 1", by Verco, Summers, Swain and Jelly (2014).

Brian Formby Moore MB BS FRACS DOMS (Lond).

Brian Formby Moore was born in Mt Barker South Australia on 9th July 1894, son of Henry Percival Moore, grandson of Robert Waters Moore (who had been the Colonial Surgeon in Adelaide). He had two brothers and a sister (one brother Harry Formby Moore was also a WW1 veteran who was awarded a military MBE). He was educated at St Peter's College and studied medicine at the University of Adelaide graduating in 1917. Family stories recall that he wanted to enlist earlier but felt that he would be more value as a trained doctor than an infantryman. This was dilemma faced by many medical students at the time. When he was travelling to University on the tram he was occasionally presented with the white feather of cowardice, an insult that hurt this intensely patriotic man.

He was sergeant of the 79th Infantry CMF and after graduating, spent three months as a house surgeon at the Adelaide Hospital before enlisting in the AIF on 7th August 1917. He was single and listed his father Henry Percival Moore as his next of kin. He was 5' 10" and weighed 168 lbs. He embarked in November 1917 for Suez and then went on to Taranto, Southhampton, Parkhouse and Codford.

He was sent to France and in March 1918 and over the next 8 months served with the RAMC in several units and then returned to the 2AGH and 1 and 2 Field Ambulance until his return to Australia in September 1919. While abroad he had 14 days with pleurisy and gunshot wound in left leg and foot. His appointment was terminated on 27th September 1919 and he was issued with the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Life after the War
Brian Moore became one of the South Australia's leading eye specialists. He gained his FRACS in 1932 and DOMS in London in 1936. Gaining these qualifications required him to live away from his wife and four children for extended periods.
He was appointed an honorary ophthalmologist at the Adelaide Children's Hospital and Queen's Home Adelaide, and the time of his death, was in partnership with Geoffrey Howard Barham Black and living in Buxton St, North Adelaide.

He was also a capable pianist and gifted amateur cabinet maker, a craft he practiced as a relaxation from the demands of his work.

He died at 48 at Victor Harbor on 11th April 1943 after a short illness. Family members recall that he was quite bitter about not being accepted to serve in WW2. His untimely death was precipitated by overwork. He was survived by his wife Joyce (nee Morgan) and four children, Anne (a WAAF), Briony, Virginia and Rob.

His brother Harry Formby Moore MBE also served in WW1 in Egypt and France and died of TB in 1927.

Submitted in 2020 by Dr Alastair Dow, grandson.