Francis 'Ferrers' Moorat
photograph copyright ww1photos.com
Francis 'Ferrers' Moorat was born in the second quarter
of 1897 in Kensington, London.
In 1911 the census records Ferrers and his mother living at Garnets Farm
House, Felstead:
Ada Moorat - age 35 - born Seaforth Lancashire.
Ferrers Moorat - age 13 - born Kensington, London.
Annie Leslie - age 16 - servant - born High Easter.
His father Francis C. S. Moorat died in 1913.
His mother, Ada I. Moorat married Edwin B. Trow in Kensington in the first quarter of 1915
Ferrers was educated at Felsted School and went on to serve as a Captain with the 4th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, although at the time of his death was attached to the 6th Battalion.
He was aged 21 when he died on 23rd August 1918. He is buried at the Bienvillers Military Cemetery. (photograph of grave courtesy www.britishwargraves.co.uk)
He was the son of the late Francis Cecil Moorat and Mrs Ada Trow, who after the war lived at The Cottage, Felsted.
Being known by his second name he is remembered on the
War Memorial in Holy Cross Church as Ferrers Moorat.
The following item appeared in the Felsted School magazine:
F.F. Moorat entered the Junior House in May 1906 and left from Windsor's (C) in May 1914, intending to qualify as a solicitor. He received his commission in the Middlesex Regiment in August 1914 and was sent to France in June 1916. He came home in January 1917 suffering from trench fever, re-joined the Regiment at Chatham in June and returned to France in December, where he served until he fell on August 23 1918. "He was universally popular and I had no idea how much his men loved him until I visited the Regiment some days after his death." "He died as he would have chosen - leading his men in a most successful attack". We understand that he was in hospital just before the attack and specially requested that he might be allowed to return to lead his men in it. Another home has lost an only son and there is universal sympathy here for Mrs and Dr Trow in their bereavement.
The Essex Weekly News 6th September 1918 carried the
following entries in its Roll of Honour
MOORAT - On August 23rd, of wounds received in action Capt. Ferrers
Moorat, Middlesex Regt. dearly-beloved and only son of the late Francis
Moorat Esq., and Mrs Trow, of Felsted, aged 21. R.I.P
The Biographical
notes included:
Capt. Ferrers Moorat, who died of wounds on Aug. 23, was the only son of
the late Mr. Francis Moorat and Mrs Trow, of Felsted. He was educated at
Felsted School, and received his commission in August 1914, at the age
of 17. He joined the Middlesex Regt. Stationed at Chatham, and was sent
to France in June 1916, where he was attached to the Oxford and Buck L.I.
Having returned to England in December, suffering from trench fever, he
joined his regiment in June 1917, and went out again in December and
served with the Middlesex Regt. until he fell aged 21. His Colonel
writes: "He was universally popular, and the nation and the service have
lost another man of the right sort."