More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A Second World War veteran of the Normandy landings has died.
Patrick Moore served with the Royal Engineers and landed as a young Sapper, aged 23, on Juno beach during the Normandy landings in 1944. He had the highly dangerous task of clearing mines from the beach to save the lives of the troops following along behind him, for which he was subsequently awarded the French Légion d’Honneur.
He joined the RBL in 1946 and by 1966 had become chairman of the Sevenoaks branch.
As such he became a key figure in arranging the annual Sevenoaks Town Service of Remembrance, which he did for 50 years.
Between 1990 and 2014, he was additionally the voluntary wreath marshal.
Since 2014, it fell to him to read the exhortation and Kohima prayer, before taking the salute,
He was elected Life President of the of the RBL Sevenoaks branch in 2018.
He re-visited Normandy on many occasions and at this year's 75th anniversary celebrations he was a guest of honour and had President Emmanuel Macron shake his hand and thank him in English for what he had done to help liberate France.
Additionally a school in Graye-sur-Mer was re-named after him: L'Ecole Patrick Moore.
In civilian life, Mr Moore was a professional sculptor, and exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1957. His studio was in Soho in London. Among his clients was Mohammed Ali, the world champion heavyweight boxer, who commissioned a likeness of himself.
When in his 60s, Mr Moore sought a change of direction and retrained to become a teacher, teaching music, design and technology, and history in a variety of London secondary schools.
Later he combined both skills by teaching sculpture to the Sevenoaks University of the Third Age.
His hobbies included playing guitar, which he sometimes did professionally a gigs at pubs and bars.
He modelled and installed a remembrance plaque at Borough Green War memorial and had recently been commissioned to model a new memorial piece by Sevenoaks Town Council to be installed at the Bat and Ball Station.
He was also a frequent visitor to local schools where he would talk to pupils about his wartime experiences.
Cllr Nicholas Busvine, the Mayor of Sevenoaks Town Council, said: "We were all very saddened to hear about the death of Pat Moore.
"The council has had a close relationship with Pat for many years, working together on the annual Remembrance Day and other commemorative events.
"Pat has been a wonderful ambassador for his generation and for Sevenoaks.
"I pay tribute to him not only as a war hero, but as a pillar of our local community who devoted himself to charitable causes after the war.
"I am so glad that he was able to celebrate the D-Day 75th anniversary last month. His work to build community ties with friends in Normandy was immense."
Mr Moore was born in London in May 1921.
He had been the last surviving member of his wartime RE unit.
He leaves Audrey, his wife of 56 years, and a son Richard, who lives in America.
He was 98.
To read about the Armed Forces and how they have served Kent and beyond, click here.
