b. 18/01/1866 Montrose, Scotland. d. 08/09/1931 Romford, Essex.
DATE OF EM ACTION: 08/02/1911 Romford Brewery, Romford, Essex.
William was the eldest of two, and the only son, of William Knights and Maryanne Moir (nee Young). His sister was named Harriet. He grew up in Montrose, Scotland, and became a general labourer for a time. On 6th July 1888, he married Margaret Jane Geddes, and they had seven children, all born in Scotland. Shortly after the birth of Grace, the family moved to England, and settled in Romford, Essex, where William became a foreman cooper at the brewery. Following the award of the Edward Medal, William continued to work at the brewery until his retirement. He died in September 1931 aged 65, and his body was returned to Montrose, where he was buried in Rosehill Cemetery.
EM CITATION:
On the 8th February, 1911, a workman at the Romford Brewery descended a large ale vat for the purpose of cleaning out the spent hops and while so engaged was overcome by the carbonic acid gas collected at the bottom. William Moir, .a foreman cooper, though a heavily-built man, went down through the manhole which was only eighteen inches square, in order to try and bring ‘the man up. He also was overcome by the”gas and was with great difficulty drawn out by a rope. Thereupon Hawkins, a clerk employed at the brewery, volunteered to go to the assistance of the workman, although he had never been accustomed to work in vats. The manhole was enlarged before his descent, and he succeeded in getting a rope round the workman before succumbing himself to the fumes. Both Moir and Hawkins displayed conspicuous courage and presence of mind, although their attempts to save the workman’s life were unavailing.
BURIAL LOCATION: ROSEHILL CEMETERY, MONTROSE. SCOTLAND.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: UNKNOWN.
