Moody, Rawson Nelson

BORN HULL 1897. SON OF GEORGE NELSON (1858-1929) & MARGARETTA FORBES (1861-1902). IN 1905, HIS FATHER MARRIED MARY ELIZABETH HAXBY (1880-1941), OF 1, ELIZABETH TERRACE, BEAN STREET, HULL (WAR PENSION ADDRESS). HE HAD ONE BROTHER AND FOUR SISTERS.

HE ENLISTED IN HULL. ARRIVED IN FRANCE ON 17/04/1915. SERVED WITH COLONEL SHAW’S, 1/4TH EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT AND WAS WOUNDED AND GASSED AT ST JULIAN. AFTER 12 MONTHS IN ENGLAND, HE RECOVERED AND WAS DRAFTED TO FRANCE AGAIN. ONCE MORE HE RETURNED TO ENGLAND, SUFFERING FROM GAS POSIONING. IN APRIL 1918, HE WAS AGAIN SENT TO FRANCE, BEING CAPTURED ON 27/05/1918. HE DIED OF PNEUMONIA, IN A GERMAN PRISONER OF WAR CAMP. HIS ARMY EFFECTS WERE LEFT TO HIS FATHER, GEORGE.

HIS NAME IS RECORDED ON ST MATTHEWS CHURCH WW1 MEMORIAL, BOULEVARD AND THE HULL TECHNICAL COLLEGE MEMORIAL.

1/4^th East Yorkshire Battalion War Diary – 27^th May 1918

When the storm of gas and High Explosive shells broke over the 50^th Division, at 1am, on 27 May 1918, the 1/4^th East Yorkshire Regiment of the 150^th Brigade (the left Battalion, of the left Brigade of the Division) were disposed as follows: “A” Company held the front line,  “B” Company was in close support in Trench Falais (in CRONNE, at the disposal of the 5^th Green Howards (on the right of the 1/4^th EYR), “D” Company was in support in Marais. For two and half hours the Tornado swept the whole divisional area, causing many casualties and practically destroying the Trenches. The 1/4^th EYR was completely disorganised and rear guard actions were fought back to the River Aisne and the Bridge at Maizy, “the number which succeeded in crossing being very small.” Total strength of the 1/4^th EYR was 4 Officers and 105 Other Ranks, out of 30 Officers and 642 Other Ranks, which began, before the attack. The Battle continued until 6^th June 1918, but the 1/4^th  EYR took no further part after the 27^th May and retired to Vert La Gravelle.