No. 13030 Leslie Alcott Moore.
Photograph in a collection of photographs and service records maintained by Dr. Nathaniel Royal Perkins. During World I, Dr. Perkins was employed by the draft registration board to examine young men for the draft. During this job, he befriended many servicemen and kept track of their military service during the war. Dr. Perkins died in 1922, and his widow, Clara, donated the collection to the Dorchester Historical Society in 1924.
Leslie Alcott Moore. Written by Douglas Robinson Wynne.
Leslie Alcott Moore was born July 6, 1893, in Boston (Dorchester), the son of Archibald Robinson and Mary Jane (Kingston) Moore (both born in New Brunswick, CAN); brother of Raymond Wallace Moore (SGT, 156th DB), Margaret Bernice Moore, Estella Louise Moore , and Charlotte Kingston Moore. Leslie married Bessie Amelia Sampson in 1917; his occupation was listed as Clerk. Moore, a resident of River Street, Dorchester, enlisted in the US Naval Reserve Force on April 19, 1918 and reported for duty on May 2nd to the 2nd Naval District, Newport, RI. On May 13th, he was transferred to USS Massachusetts, on June 14th to USS Virginia, and on September 6th to USS Nebraska. Seaman 2nd Class Moore died on USS Nebraska on September 25th, at sea. He was buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery with full naval honors. The Dorchester Park playground on Adams Street and the Veteran’s Square at the intersection of Adams Street and Milton Avenue at the entrance to Cedar Grove Cemetery are both named in his honor.
The following is transcribed from a newspaper article, the original of which is cropped too closely to be attributed:
“The funeral of Leslie A. Moore of 84 River Street, another of Dorchester’s young men to die while in the service of his country, was held at Cedar Grove Cemetery. The Rev. Alfred Skinner of the First M. E. Church and the Rev. A. A. Rideout, pastor of the Blaney Memorial Church and Grand Chaplain of the I. O. O. F., conducted the services. The Odd Fellows’ ritual was said by the Rev. Mr. Rideout and a large delegation of lodge members was present. Moore was born in the Lower Mills section, July 6, 1893, and was married but a short time. He enlisted in the Navy last April and was assigned to the U.S.S. Virginia. Later he was transferred to the Nebraska, on which ship he died after a short illness on Sept. 25. Impressive military services were held, with a firing squad and a bugler, who sounded taps. Previous to his enlisting he was employed in the Boston office of the Walter Baker Co. Ltd. for nine years. He was a member of the First M. E. Church, and of the Dorchester Lodge No. 158, I. O. O. F., and Macedonian Lodge, A. F. and A. Masons. Besides his wife, Mrs. Bessie Moore, he is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Archie Moore, one brother and three sisters. Official cause of death: Spanish Influenza.”
As a closing note, Leslie’s mother (my grandmother) went to become very active in the Gold Star Mothers organization.
Sources:
The Gold Star Record of Massachusetts
U.S. Navy Casualty Books, 1776-1941
Massachusetts Marriage Index, 1901-1955 and 1966-1770
U.S. World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
Massachusetts Mason Membership Cards, 1733-1990
1900 and 1910 United States Federal Census
Massachusetts Birth Records, 1840-1915
Notes from Dr. Perkins collection