PETTY OFFICER REGINALD “ARCHIE” MOORE, R54580

    I have sadly attended too many funerals of ex shipmates lately all of which leave a lasting memory. However the 
funeral service for Reg “Archie” Moore was very different I must admit it was the first occasion for me that the service 
was held in the Funeral Parlour and was conducted by Reg’s very good friend Gary Bezant who under the emotional
 stress of the occasion was excellent.

    Reg was born on the 11th June 1937 at Moorarie Station near Meekatharra, son of Julitha Doongoo and Reg Moore.
 He was an Uncle to 12 and great Uncle to I 8 children. 

    At age 8, he was put into “Sister Kate's Orphanage” where his football heroes Ted (Square) Kilmurray and Graham
 (Polly) Farmer also resided. Reg stayed there until 19 years of age when he moved to live with a family called 
“Steensons” during which time he worked in a Post Office. 

    At age 21 Reg joined the navy where he picked up his nickname “Archie” (because of his boxing ability,) he went on
 to serve on numerous ships and establishments during the next ten years. Archie was a good reliable sailor and 
worked very hard to establish himself as a “Weapon Mechanic” so much so that he advanced to the rank of Petty 
Officer within six years of joining. He was awarded the “Active Service Medal”, “General Service Medal” and the 
“Vietnam Logistic Support Medal”. 

    Archie sadly became a victim of that disease that is claiming to many of us, lung cancer, some 12 months ago. At 
this stage he was on his own and we were very happy to learn that his friends Gary and Carol Bezant cared him for 
during the remaining 9 months of his life. 

    Reginald “Archie” Moore joined the navy as a young man and loved it, so it’s very pleasing for all of us to know, that 
“Archie” will return to sea as the Royal Australian Navy has agreed to scatter his ashes. 

    We will miss you “Archie”, we know you will keep that gunnery turret of yours in that big ship in the sky as spotless
 as you did back here. 

                                  LEST WE FORGET  

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