Lt Col William MOULE 1824 - 1880 Hewelsfield burial (General)

by slowhands , proud of his ancient Dean Forest roots, Friday, February 15, 2013, 13:54 (4294 days ago) @ angell201056

Thank you for all the information,that's a great help. I still cannot understand why someone who died in Surrey was buried in Gloucestershire.!! Why also was the memorial inscription with Charles Paget!! Are they buried together or is this inscription in the church or just a plaque somewhere in the churchyard.?

Many Thanks

It appears as thought the Inscription is on the same "stone"

William dies and probate granted to his brother - assume no wife or children

Charles Paget dies probate to his niece, again assume no wife or children

Both men have an Army background.

So is Charles an uncle of William ? or related to his wife Louisa ???

<><><>< mention of a scandal and wife Louisa ?????

Moule was later Lt. Col commanding the Armed Constabulary and Waikato Militia in New Zealand.

William Moule was born in Middlesex 1824 and enlisted in the 10th Hussars c.1842. Obviously a man of talents, he rose through the ranks of the regiment quickly in India in the late 1840's and by the time of the Crimean War in 1854 was a senior NCO, as Troop Serjeant Major. It was here that his abilities were once more recognised and he was appointed Cornet, without purchase, in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons in 1855. (It is in this rank that his Crimea medal is named). In 1858, the Inniskillings were sent to India, but did not take part in the Mutiny campaigns. It is from this period that the oval photograph shown here is taken; in fact, in Brighton, in early '58 just on the eve of departure to India. Moule exchanges into the 15th Foot in 1861 (see below).

Cornet and Adjutant William Moule 6th Dragoons to have the rank of Lieutenant. Dated 23rd October 1857.
Lieutenant William Moule, from the 6th Dragoons, to be Lieutenant 15th Foot . Dated 9th April, 1861.

Moule arrives in New Zealand somewhere around 1862-3. By July 1863, he is Captain and Adjutant of 2nd class Battalion of the Auckland Militia.
Moule progressed rapidly through the ranks in the Militia from Captain in later July to Major in November, indicating that he did have an established military background. He was c ommissioned Lieutenant Colonel, 21 April 1864. He was relieved from service on 20 July 1865.
William Moule was gazetted Hamilton's first J.P. 1865
Feb 1866 - Lt. Col. Moule is in command of the 4th Waikato Militia and subsequently was made Colonel Commandant of all the Waikato Forces.
In 1870, Colonel Fraser, commanding the militia and in charge of the Armed Constabulary in the Bay of Plenty, had died, and Colonel Moule was appointed to take his place. Shortly after his arrival at Tauranga he was also made Resident Magistrate there. He was to finish his official life in New Zealand as Under Secretary for Defence and Officer in command of the Armed Constabulary. It was said of him that:
"He had a very keen sense of duty, and there is no doubt that he carried out his responsibilities as fairly and justly as he was able. But his very conscientiousness made him impatient of those who were less scrupulously exact. His luxuriant curly brown beard lay below a long nose and rather worried, though kind eyes."
Moule's private life was embroiled in scandal by an acrimonious divorce petition in March 1864, well reported in the NZ press. He was accused of deserting his wife, who it was inferred was having another liason with a man....this same woman, his wife, Louisa, was also later embroiled in a murder case back in England when she had remarried following Moule's death.

William Moule died in Surrey, England after a long a painful illness, on 25th June 1880. He had never claimed a New Zealand medal awarded for the Maori wars of this period, despite his long service in the field. Indeed, there is no record of him ever petitioning for one.

An important medal awarded to an important man for New Zealand's Military during this period of turmoil. With copy photos and lots of research. Well worthy of further study - his letters written during his time as Lt Col commanding are held extensively in NZ Archives.

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>