James Munro likeness

James Munro cap badgePrivate James Munro

1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers
Service No: 10935

James Munro grave

1042

3

4

0

5
Click here for a frameable A4 print
Personal details

Family Information

Son of Thomas (1850 - 09/05/917) and Catherine Munro (1853 - 02/06/1926) of 77 Coatbank St, Coatbridge. They were married under the surname of Roe in St. Patrick's Church on the 01/02/1879. James' brother Private John Munro born 29/12/1879 of the 12th (Service) Battalion Highland Light Infantry was Killed in Action on the 19/01/1916. Three other brothers also served, Patrick in the Royal Irish Fusiliers (reported missing since the retreat at Mons. See brother John's Newspaper clipping 2), Daniel in the Highland Light Infantry and Thomas (surname Roe) in the Kings Own Scottish Borderers. All 3 survived. From the 1901 Census (James not listed) - Address - 2 Spencer St, Coatbridge - Thomas Munro aged 50, Catherine Munro aged 48, Mary Ann Munro aged 19 born 19/09/1881, Bridget Munro aged 17 (1883-10/10/1949), Thomas Munro aged 16, Daniel Munro aged 14, Patrick Munro aged 19, Alice Munro aged 10, Catherine Munro aged 5. Another daughter was Margaret Alice Munro born 02/04/1891. James' Pension was awarded to his mother Catherine on the 02/01/1917. James' mother is listed as Catherine on the Census but in the St. Patrick's Roll of Honour (book) his mother is listed as Margaret.

Born / Resided

Coatbridge / 77 Coatbank St, Coatbridge

Died

Killed in Action on the 26/08/1914 at the Battle of Le Cateaux

Enlisted

Glasgow /01/1912

Employed

Regular Soldier

Age

26

Buried / Remembered

La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial. Seine-et-Marne, France

Cemetery / Memorial Information

The La Ferté-sous-Jouarre Memorial commemorates 3,740 officers and men of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) who fell at the battles of Mons, Le Cateau, the Marne and the Aisne between the end of August and early October 1914 and have no known graves. The Battle of the Marne, referred to in the French press as the "Miracle of the Marne", halted the month-long advance of the German forces toward Paris and decisively ended the possibility of an early German victory. The battle also marked the beginning of trench warfare as Allied and German forces entrenched during and after the Battle of the Aisne in mid-September. By November battle lines had been drawn that would remain virtually unchanged for almost four years. The British Expeditionary Force suffered almost 13,000 casualties during the Battle of the Marne, of whom some 7,000 had been killed.

Additional Information

James enlisted in the Royal Irish Fusiliers in January 1912 and he arrived at Boulogne with his Battalion on the 23/08/1914. His Battalion were part of the 10th Brigade, 4th Division and were immediately thrown into the front line as the British tried to slow down the retreat from Mons at Le Cateaux. James was killed only 3 days after arriving in France. He was the 2nd man from Coatbridge to be killed in the war. By nightfall of the 25 August 1914 the retreating British II Corps was being closely pursued by the German First Army. I Corps was some way away to the east, and although the newly-arrived 4th Division was moving up alongside II Corps it was clear that the disorganised and greatly fatigued units faced a calamity the next day if the withdrawal was forced to continue. Corps Commander Horace Smith-Dorrien ordered II Corps to stand and fight. The units of the Corps were arranged in the open downs to the west of the small town of Le Cateau. For long hours during the morning of the 26th August, the British force, notably the field artillery, held overwhelming numbers of the enemy at bay. British tactics were similar to those at Mons. The infantry produced intensive and accurate rifle fire, while the field artillery fired air-bursting shrapnel rounds on the unprotected advancing enemy infantry. Many field guns were fired at point-blank range over open sights. But the British artillery was also exposed and came in for heavy punishment from the German guns. Some were withdrawn just as the enemy infantry closed in. For the second time in three days, the British force engaged withdrew just in time. Miraculously, the exhausted II Corps disengaged and withdrew towards the south during the afternoon. Smith-Dorrien's decision to turn II Corps around from retreat and to stand against the German advance at Le Cateau paid off handsomely. Heavy casualties were inflicted on the Germans and another delay imposed on their Schlieffen timetable. To the east, I Corps was able to move further away from the advance parties of the Germans. However, a rift grew between Sir John French (who had initially ordered a continuation of the retreat) and Smith-Dorrien as a result of this action. It was to have serious consequences in 1915. The total British casualties at Le Cateau amounted to 7,812 of all ranks, killed, wounded and missing. 38 field guns were lost. See Directory for James' brother John's page. James is also remembered on the St. Patrick's Church Roll of Honour along with brothers Daniel and Thomas (see photos). See photos for James' Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clipping, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his listing in the Ireland Casualties WW1, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial Panel List, his name on the La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial x 2, his Pension Records x 3 and the Royal Irish Fusiliers Cap Badge.

Photos
James Munro Medal Index CardJames Munro newspaper clippingJames Munro newspaper clippingJames Munro newspaper clippingJames Munro remembered at homeJames Munro remembered at homeJames Munro remembered at homeJames Munro remembered at homeJames Munro additional photoJames Munro additional photoJames Munro additional photoJames Munro additional photoJames Munro additional photo

Creative Commons License

We have made this information and the images available under a Creative Commons BY-NC license. This means you may reuse it for non-commercial purposes only and must attribute it to us using the following statement: © coatbridgeandthegreatwar.com

Comments

There are no comments yet for Private James Munro. Be the first to leave one.

Do you have any information about or memories of Private James Munro that you would like to share?

Or even if you would just like to leave a message to say you've been here, please leave a comment below.

*Please note that all comments are verified by a moderator before appearing on the site. All fields are required except links to photos.