Inverness Boating Tragedy
Lieut. Henry Garrett Moore and Able Seaman William Shearer - 3rd September 1910
Inverness Firth - UKHO
Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Wednesday 07 September 1910
NAVAL OFFICER MISSING.
An Inverness telegram states that small boats attached to the Home Fleet are searching Inverness Firth for Lieutenant Moore and William Shearer, A.B., who have been missing since Saturday. They set out in a dinghy from H.M.S Pathfinder for Inverness, a distance of about eight miles. The afternoon was squally and the sea was very choppy. The little craft sailed up the Firth until it got within about a mile of the town, when it was observed to be struggling hard against the elements. A violent gust struck the dinghy, and it was lost sight of from that time.
NAVAL OFFICER MISSING.
An Inverness telegram states that small boats attached to the Home Fleet are searching Inverness Firth for Lieutenant Moore and William Shearer, A.B., who have been missing since Saturday. They set out in a dinghy from H.M.S Pathfinder for Inverness, a distance of about eight miles. The afternoon was squally and the sea was very choppy. The little craft sailed up the Firth until it got within about a mile of the town, when it was observed to be struggling hard against the elements. A violent gust struck the dinghy, and it was lost sight of from that time.
HMS Pathfinder
Dundee Courier - Wednesday 07 September 1910
OFFICER AND SEAMAN OF THE PATHFINDER DROWNED IN INVERNESS FIRTH.
A search party of boats from the torpedo destroyer flotilla which present located in the Inverness Firth were out all day yesterday searching for a dinghy in which there were an officer and a seaman who have been missing since Saturday afternoon. The fleet lias been anchored about eight miles down the firth from Inverness, and Lieut. Moore and William Shearer, A.8., left the H.M.S. Pathfinder for the purpose of proceeding to Inverness. The wind was squally, but the little boat made good progress until about two miles from Inverness, where the firth is broadest, extending about three miles from shore to shore. It is thought that sudden squall struck the boat, which, according to an eye-witness, disappeared like a shot and was not seen again. A sharp tide was ebbing, and the unfortunate occupants of the boat had no chance of making for the shore. Lieut. Moore was a popular young officer, and the fatality is the cause of regret among his comrades
OFFICER AND SEAMAN OF THE PATHFINDER DROWNED IN INVERNESS FIRTH.
A search party of boats from the torpedo destroyer flotilla which present located in the Inverness Firth were out all day yesterday searching for a dinghy in which there were an officer and a seaman who have been missing since Saturday afternoon. The fleet lias been anchored about eight miles down the firth from Inverness, and Lieut. Moore and William Shearer, A.8., left the H.M.S. Pathfinder for the purpose of proceeding to Inverness. The wind was squally, but the little boat made good progress until about two miles from Inverness, where the firth is broadest, extending about three miles from shore to shore. It is thought that sudden squall struck the boat, which, according to an eye-witness, disappeared like a shot and was not seen again. A sharp tide was ebbing, and the unfortunate occupants of the boat had no chance of making for the shore. Lieut. Moore was a popular young officer, and the fatality is the cause of regret among his comrades
Shoreditch Observer - Saturday 10 September 1910
MISSING OFFICER.
Boats from the torpedo flotilla now in Inverness Firth were out all day on Tuesday in the hope of finding Lieutenant H. G. Moore and an able seaman named William Shearer, who had left H.M.S. Pathfinder in dinghy Saturday afternoon to go to Inverness and have been missing since. It was squally at the time, and it thought that the boat was struck by a sudden gust. An eye-witness on shore at a point where the firth is three miles wide, states that saw the boat " disappear like a shot.”
MISSING OFFICER.
Boats from the torpedo flotilla now in Inverness Firth were out all day on Tuesday in the hope of finding Lieutenant H. G. Moore and an able seaman named William Shearer, who had left H.M.S. Pathfinder in dinghy Saturday afternoon to go to Inverness and have been missing since. It was squally at the time, and it thought that the boat was struck by a sudden gust. An eye-witness on shore at a point where the firth is three miles wide, states that saw the boat " disappear like a shot.”
Lieutenant H. G. Moore
Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer - Wednesday 14 September 1910
A SCOTCH BOATING FATALITY
The body man was washed ashore in the Inverness Firth about mile above the fishing village of Ardersier. The body has not yet been, identified, but is supposed to be that of either Lieut. Moore or Shearer, able seaman, belonging to H.M.S. Pathfinder, who have been missing for twelve days. They were last seen in a dinghy sailing towards Inverness, and it is supposed that the boat was struck by squall and disappeared. There was no clothing on the body, but boots were on the feet.
Dundee Courier - Wednesday 14 September 1910
NAVAL TRAGEDY AT INVERNESS. RECOVERY OF SEAMAN'S BODY. Yesterday afternoon dead body was seen floating in the Inverness Firth about two miles from the military depot at Fort-George. The body was brought ashore, and it is supposed to be that of the naval seaman who was drowned with an officer in a boat in the firth some ten days ago. There were no clothes the body, and it was evident the seamen had made great effort after the boat had capsized to swim ashore. The Inverness-shire police have taken charge of the remains to await identification.
Daily Mirror - Thursday 15 September 1910
BODY OF MISSING OFFICER FOUND. Washed Ashore in Scottish Firth with Only Boots on Feet. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) INVERNESS, Wednesday.—The mysterious disappearance of Lieutenant. Moore and a seaman from H.M.S. Pathfinder in Moray Firth a fortnight ago was tragically solved this morning, when a body washed ashore last night was identified as that of Lieutenant Moore. All clothing was missing, and only the boots. were left on the feet. It is supposed that the dinghy in which Lieutenant Moore left the torpedo flotilla for Inverness capsized during a squall, and that in an endeavour to reach the shore the lieutenant divested himself of his clothing, but was unable to reach land owing to a strong tide.
Western Morning News - Thursday 15 September 1910
NAVAL OFFICER DROWNED
RECOVERY OF LT. MOORE'S BODY ‘The body of a young man found on the shores of Inverness Firth has been identified as that of Lieut. . Moore, R.N., who, with a seaman, was missing from the scout Pathfinder The lieutenant and the seaman left the ship in a dinghy to go to Inverness, and it is thought the boat capsized, and no trace of it has been found. Lieut. Moore had evidently made a determined effort to swim ashore, as there were no clothes on the body except the boot. The deceased was 28 years of age.
A SCOTCH BOATING FATALITY
The body man was washed ashore in the Inverness Firth about mile above the fishing village of Ardersier. The body has not yet been, identified, but is supposed to be that of either Lieut. Moore or Shearer, able seaman, belonging to H.M.S. Pathfinder, who have been missing for twelve days. They were last seen in a dinghy sailing towards Inverness, and it is supposed that the boat was struck by squall and disappeared. There was no clothing on the body, but boots were on the feet.
Dundee Courier - Wednesday 14 September 1910
NAVAL TRAGEDY AT INVERNESS. RECOVERY OF SEAMAN'S BODY. Yesterday afternoon dead body was seen floating in the Inverness Firth about two miles from the military depot at Fort-George. The body was brought ashore, and it is supposed to be that of the naval seaman who was drowned with an officer in a boat in the firth some ten days ago. There were no clothes the body, and it was evident the seamen had made great effort after the boat had capsized to swim ashore. The Inverness-shire police have taken charge of the remains to await identification.
Daily Mirror - Thursday 15 September 1910
BODY OF MISSING OFFICER FOUND. Washed Ashore in Scottish Firth with Only Boots on Feet. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) INVERNESS, Wednesday.—The mysterious disappearance of Lieutenant. Moore and a seaman from H.M.S. Pathfinder in Moray Firth a fortnight ago was tragically solved this morning, when a body washed ashore last night was identified as that of Lieutenant Moore. All clothing was missing, and only the boots. were left on the feet. It is supposed that the dinghy in which Lieutenant Moore left the torpedo flotilla for Inverness capsized during a squall, and that in an endeavour to reach the shore the lieutenant divested himself of his clothing, but was unable to reach land owing to a strong tide.
Western Morning News - Thursday 15 September 1910
NAVAL OFFICER DROWNED
RECOVERY OF LT. MOORE'S BODY ‘The body of a young man found on the shores of Inverness Firth has been identified as that of Lieut. . Moore, R.N., who, with a seaman, was missing from the scout Pathfinder The lieutenant and the seaman left the ship in a dinghy to go to Inverness, and it is thought the boat capsized, and no trace of it has been found. Lieut. Moore had evidently made a determined effort to swim ashore, as there were no clothes on the body except the boot. The deceased was 28 years of age.
Sheerness Guardian and East Kent Advertiser - Saturday 24 September 1910
DEATH OF LIEUT. MOORE, R.N.
Lieut. Henry Garrett Moore, whose body has been washed up in Inverness Firth, had been in the Royal Navy for nearly 12 years. He passed out of the Britannia in January 1901, and became a midshipman on the 30th of that month. He served in this capacity in the Resolution, battleship, in the Channel squadron, and afterwards in the Formidable, to which vessel the crew of the Resolution turned over in October, 1901. He passed for sub-lieutenant on March 30th, 1904, and in the following July was appointed to the battleship Montagu in the Channel Fleet. He was not serving in this ship when she was wrecked on Lundy Island, as two months before the mishap he had been appointed sub-lieutenant in command of torpedo boat No. 54 in the Sheerness-Chatham flotilla. On October 1st, 1906, he was promoted to lieutenant, and in the following month was appointed to the Irresistible in the Mediterranean. The ship was recommissioned in December, 1908, and Lieut. Moore was then appointed to the Pathfinder, one of the two scouts attached to the First Destroyer Flotilla.
DEATH OF LIEUT. MOORE, R.N.
Lieut. Henry Garrett Moore, whose body has been washed up in Inverness Firth, had been in the Royal Navy for nearly 12 years. He passed out of the Britannia in January 1901, and became a midshipman on the 30th of that month. He served in this capacity in the Resolution, battleship, in the Channel squadron, and afterwards in the Formidable, to which vessel the crew of the Resolution turned over in October, 1901. He passed for sub-lieutenant on March 30th, 1904, and in the following July was appointed to the battleship Montagu in the Channel Fleet. He was not serving in this ship when she was wrecked on Lundy Island, as two months before the mishap he had been appointed sub-lieutenant in command of torpedo boat No. 54 in the Sheerness-Chatham flotilla. On October 1st, 1906, he was promoted to lieutenant, and in the following month was appointed to the Irresistible in the Mediterranean. The ship was recommissioned in December, 1908, and Lieut. Moore was then appointed to the Pathfinder, one of the two scouts attached to the First Destroyer Flotilla.
Funeral of Lt H.G Moore
Highland News - Saturday 17 September 1910
NAVAL FUNERAL AT ROSEMARKIE.
THE INVERNESS FIRTH TRAGEDY.
On Thursday morning the remains of the late Lieut. Moore, R.N., of H.M.S Pathfinder, which were recovered from the Inverness Firth on Tuesday, were laid to rest in the old Churchyard, Rosemarkie, with full naval honours. About two hundred officers and men from the division of the Home Fleet presently lying in the firth escorted the body to the grave, and the firing party was drawn from the seamen of the unfortunate officer's ship. The coffin, which was of polished oak, was borne shoulder high into the church and placed on the Communion table, where it lay under a wealth of floral tributes and covered with the Union Jack, with the deceased officer's head dress and sword on top. The Rev. W. E. O. Stevens, R.N., H.M.S Bleuheim, conducted the funeral service, assisted by the Rev. Mr Masterton, minister of the parish, who read the lesson. Mr Stevens officiated at the grave, and the ceremony concluded with the sounding of the last post. The funeral arrangements were in the capable hands of Mr Maclennan, contractor, Fortrose. In connection with the fatality a burial service was held aboard the Pathfinder on Sunday morning.
NAVAL FUNERAL AT ROSEMARKIE.
THE INVERNESS FIRTH TRAGEDY.
On Thursday morning the remains of the late Lieut. Moore, R.N., of H.M.S Pathfinder, which were recovered from the Inverness Firth on Tuesday, were laid to rest in the old Churchyard, Rosemarkie, with full naval honours. About two hundred officers and men from the division of the Home Fleet presently lying in the firth escorted the body to the grave, and the firing party was drawn from the seamen of the unfortunate officer's ship. The coffin, which was of polished oak, was borne shoulder high into the church and placed on the Communion table, where it lay under a wealth of floral tributes and covered with the Union Jack, with the deceased officer's head dress and sword on top. The Rev. W. E. O. Stevens, R.N., H.M.S Bleuheim, conducted the funeral service, assisted by the Rev. Mr Masterton, minister of the parish, who read the lesson. Mr Stevens officiated at the grave, and the ceremony concluded with the sounding of the last post. The funeral arrangements were in the capable hands of Mr Maclennan, contractor, Fortrose. In connection with the fatality a burial service was held aboard the Pathfinder on Sunday morning.
Rosemarkie Church Photo: Bill Henderson
