- SURNAME
Moores
- FORENAME
John Stephen Mark (Steve)
- UNIT
G Squadron (24 Troop)
- RANK
Sergeant
- NUMBER
23969414
- DATE OF DEATH
8th October 1971
- AGE
27
- GRAVESITE
Hereford (St Martin's) Churchyard, Herefordshire Row D Grave 7
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit Coldstream Guards
born 7.6.1944
DOW Oman
DATE OF DEATH:
08-Oct-1971CITATION:
Award Recommendation :
During a recent operation in the MUSANDAM Peninsula SAS Troops were deployed to eradicate dissidents in this part of Oman. The enemy were known to use certain areas and the success of the operation depended upon a surprise entry and swift subsequent action.
One suspected enemy area was in the Wadi RAWDAN in the centre of MUSANDAM it had never been entered by Europeans and the only means of ensuring a covert entrance was by free fall parachute. Sgt Moores was nominated to plan and lead the free fall descent.
The Wadi is surrounded by mountains over 5,000 feet high and it was necessary for the free fallers to open 2,000 feet below the surrounding peaks. Such a feat required the greatest professional expertise by the spotter responsible for despatching the parachutists, since an error of 7 seconds would have resulted in the entire Troop being annihilated on the surrounding mountains with unopened parachutes.
Sgt Moores conducted the despatch with such accuracy that the stick of 15 men landed within 700 yards of the planned DZ having exited at 10,000 feet. No wind forecasts were available for such a remote area; the drop was at night without previous reconnaissance and was the first time a free fall descent had been conducted under operational conditions.
The risks involved were not only very considerable, but also very obvious during the planning phase, and it was due solely to Moores' professional competence and personal leadership that that were overcome and that his Troop tackled the task with as much confidence.
Place : MUSANDAM PENINSULA, OMAN
Date of Action : 22nd December 1970
How Employed : Commander Free Fall Troop
See below and National Archive file for full context of award (MID/BEM/etc)
During a recent operation in the MUSANDAM Peninsula SAS Troops were deployed to eradicate dissidents in this part of Oman. The enemy were known to use certain areas and the success of the operation depended upon a surprise entry and swift subsequent action.
One suspected enemy area was in the Wadi RAWDAN in the centre of MUSANDAM it had never been entered by Europeans and the only means of ensuring a covert entrance was by free fall parachute. Sgt Moores was nominated to plan and lead the free fall descent.
The Wadi is surrounded by mountains over 5,000 feet high and it was necessary for the free fallers to open 2,000 feet below the surrounding peaks. Such a feat required the greatest professional expertise by the spotter responsible for despatching the parachutists, since an error of 7 seconds would have resulted in the entire Troop being annihilated on the surrounding mountains with unopened parachutes.
Sgt Moores conducted the despatch with such accuracy that the stick of 15 men landed within 700 yards of the planned DZ having exited at 10,000 feet. No wind forecasts were available for such a remote area; the drop was at night without previous reconnaissance and was the first time a free fall descent had been conducted under operational conditions.
The risks involved were not only very considerable, but also very obvious during the planning phase, and it was due solely to Moores' professional competence and personal leadership that that were overcome and that his Troop tackled the task with as much confidence.
Place : MUSANDAM PENINSULA, OMAN
Date of Action : 22nd December 1970
How Employed : Commander Free Fall Troop
See below and National Archive file for full context of award (MID/BEM/etc)
WEB LINKS:
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7631400https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7488089
FINDAGRAVE:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/79751379/john-stephen_mark-moores
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