Memorable Manitobans: Arthur Ernest “Jack” Moore (1881-1950)

Arthur Ernest Moore Click to enlarge

Labour leader, MLA (1921-1922).

Born at Lewis-Kent, England on 12 February 1881, he joined the Royal Navy when he was less than 10 years old and saw service around the world for the next 12 years. He came to Winnipeg in 1910 and, the following year, became employed by the Canadian Northern Railway as a painter in its Fort Rouge Shops. He joined the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen of America and, as chairman of the joint protective board, negotiated the first wage agreement between employees and the company.

During the First World War, he served as a Sergeant in France with the 44th Canadian Infantry Battalion. On his return to Canada he served on a Royal Commission set up by the Manitoba government to investigate employment conditions for returning veterans. In the 1920 provincial general election, he was elected to the Manitoba Legislature on a soldier-labour platform. He was fired from his railway job for his political activities but was reinstated after a storm of public protest and stayed there until retirement. He was an Independent candidate for the Winnipeg constituency in the 1927 provincial general election but was defeated.

While living in England, he married Harriet Pink (1878-1925) and they had seven children, the latter three in Manitoba: Dorothy Moore (c1902-?), David Moore (c1904-?), Lillie Moore (c1907-?), Arthur Moore (c1909-?), Ivy Margaret Moore (1912-?, wife of Keith Campbell Moran), Elsie Laura Moore (1914-?), and Gladys Mary Mooore (1916-?). The family lived at 73 Morley Avenue (c1911) and 708 Nassau Street (c1915). He served as President of the Great War Veterans Association (precursor to the Royal Canadian Legion) for 22 years. In 1934 he founded the Young Men’s United to host swimming, boxing, curling and other activities for the children of fallen soldiers. At the outbreak of the Second World War, he went overseas to help organize auxiliary services.

He died at Winnipeg on 4 October 1950 and was buried in the military section of Brookside Cemetery.

Sources:

Birth and marriage registrations, Manitoba Vital Statistics.

Attestation papers, Canadian Expeditionary Force, Library and Archives Canada.

1921 Canada census, Ancestry.

“Mrs. A. E. Moore, wife of G.W.V.A. President, dies,” Winnipeg Tribune, 31 August 1925, page 6.

“Canadian Legion chief dies at Deer Lodge,” Winnipeg Free Press, 5 October 1950.

Times of Trouble: Labour Quiescence in Winnipeg 1920-1929 by David Edward Hall, MA thesis, University of Manitoba, 1983, page 72.

We thank Lloyd Warren for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 17 February 2020

Memorable Manitobans This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!