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Moon’s platoon was given the task of
neutralising a concrete machine-gun shelter which lay between the
opposition trenches. Moon, wounded early in the attack, successfully
led his men in the capture of the shelter. He then rallied them for
an attack on the enemy trench and, although wounded a second time,
organised a Lewis gun team to bring effective fire to bear on the
Germans, causing them to flee. He followed, but was forced back, so
he organised for grenades to be thrown at the enemy who were
sheltering in a cutting. With some other men he attacked the
position and forced the Germans into dug-outs where they were
effectively trapped. Moon was wounded for a third time (in the leg
and foot) in the fight for this cutting. As the reinforcements came
through to mop up, Moon and two fellow officers decided to withdraw
their men a short distance and consolidate to escape the persistent
sniper fire. Just before the move was carried out, Moon, who was
peering over the cutting to ascertain enemy locations, was shot in
the jaw. He insisted, however, on seeing the new position occupied
before he allowed two men to take him to the rear. |