Johnathan Moore

Soldier | 1987 - 2010

Member of Royal Scots Borderers killed in Afghanistan explosion

Corporal John Moore of The Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, was killed in Afghanistan on Sunday 7 February, 2010.

The 22-year-old from Lanarkshire died alongside his comrade Private Sean McDonald in an explosion while on routine night patrol.

Johnathan Moore was born in Bellshill on 2 July, 1987. He went to Hamilton Grammar School before enlisting and going to the Army Foundation College in Harrogate in 2004.

He completed a year's training, designed to promote junior leadership, before going to the Infantry Training Centre, Catterick for infantry-specific training. He joined The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) in March 2005 and had been on two tours of Iraq.

He deployed to Sangin in Afghanistan in October 2009.

The family of Cpl Moore said: “Johnathan was a proud Scottish Soldier who was doing a job that he loved; he will be sadly missed by a loving and very proud family. The Army and his family were Johnathan's life we are devastated at our loss.”

Lieutenant Colonel Nick Kitson, his commanding officer, said: “Corporal 'John' Moore was as determined and committed as he was able and professional. A junior leader of the rarest quality, our army depends on men like him and his loss is a bitter blow.

“Another of our brightest stars has given his all before we have had the chance to see his full and undoubted potential unfold. Yet he would be the first to tell us not to dwell on our sense of terrible loss but to pick ourselves up and carry on the outstanding work he and his men have been doing.”

Related tributes:
Links:
- Ministry of Defence

Your Memories

Lieutenant Colonel Nick Kitson, Commanding Officer, 3 RIFLES Battle Group:

Corporal Moore has been at the forefront of some of the most demanding urban counter-insurgency operations imaginable amongst the tight and treacherous alleyways of his company's part of Sangin.

He has daily and nightly run the gauntlet against a small band of callous insurgents rarely willing to show themselves or fight head on, preferring to rely on indiscriminate booby traps which have also taken a devastating toll on locals and their children.

Their nihilistic desire to cow the local population stands in stark contrast to Corporal Moore's own selfless dedication, not just to his men - his brave Jocks, but to the local Afghans, for whom he wanted nothing but a better future.

This Battle Group salutes Corporal Moore's unflinching commitment and reveres his proud memory. He stands as an example to us all and we renew our determination to continue the clear progress that has been made in our mission – progress to which his personal contribution was immeasurable. The thoughts and prayers of all in the 3 Rifles Battle Group go out to his family, his friends and his own fine regiment. Lasting Tribute — 10.02.2010

Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Herbert, Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland said:

Corporal 'John' Moore was the type of non-commissioned officer that every commanding officer wants in his Battalion, and I am privileged to have had the honour to work with him. He had all the attributes of the perfect Scottish warrior; bold, charismatic, tough as nails, utterly professional and a born leader of men.

He was destined for the top; best student on his non-commissioned officer course in 2007, and a star of his Corporals course in 2008. As the Regimental Sergeant Major said, "Corporal Moore personified everything there is about being a soldier." I can think of no more fitting tribute to him. Lasting Tribute — 10.02.2010

Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Herbert, Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland said:

Corporal John Moore was perfectly suited to this unique profession of ours, and like so many of his peers he looked upon it not as a straightforward job, but as a true vocation. He played a pivotal role during the Battalion's tour in Iraq in 2008, and relished the opportunity of an operational deployment to Afghanistan alongside the 3 RIFLES Battle Group.

Equally, perhaps more importantly, he believed passionately in the difficult work that he was doing to protect the people of Helmand. In doing so, and in helping to keep our country safe, we owe him and his family an enormous debt of gratitude.

I valued him immensely and feel his loss dreadfully, but I take comfort in knowing that he died doing a job that he absolutely loved. I have lost one of my most gifted young commanders, the Royal Regiment of Scotland has lost a shining star of the future, but I am conscious that his family have lost a son and a brother. My heart goes out to them. He will be missed, but never forgotten. Lasting Tribute — 10.02.2010