John Munro likeness

John Munro cap badgePrivate John Munro

12th (Service) Battalion Highland Light Infantry
Service No: 8163

John Munro grave

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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. Husband of Sarah Fisher Munro of 41 Coatbank St, Coatbridge. They were married on the 01/07/1906. Father of 4 children, Thomas born 29/04/1907, Elizabeth born 22/05/1910, John born 17/11/1912 and Sarah (18/01/1915-27/07/1916). John's daughter Sarah died just over 6 months after her father. John's brother Private James Munro of the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Fusiliers was Killed in Action on the 26/08/1914. John had 3 other brothers serving, Patrick in the Royal Irish Fusiliers (reported missing since the retreat of Mons. See Newspaper clipping 2), Daniel in the Highland Light Infantry, Thomas (surname Roe) in the Kings Own Scottish Borderers. All 3 survived. His wife had 6 brothers serving and this was acknowledged by King George V. From the 1901 Census (John not listed. He was serving at this time) - 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. John's mother is listed as Catherine on the Census but in the St Patrick's Roll of Honour (book) his mother is listed as Margaret. John's son John was born at 6pm at 49b Coatbank St, Coatbridge on the 17/11/1912. He served as Rifleman John Munro (14709237) with the 9th Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). He fell on the 07/09/1944 and was initially buried near Bevrijdingslaan, Avelghem (Avelgem), West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (see photos for CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report and his Reburial form x 2). He was reburied on 23/08/1946 in Leopoldsburg War Cemetery, his final resting place. John's pension was awarded to his wife Sarah on the 02/08/1916. Their 4 children are also listed. Sarah married James Westwood in Blythswood, Lanarkshie, Scotland in 1918. Half-siblings of Sarah and John's children were Margaret Westwood (1919 - 1974), George Westwood (1921 - 2014), Malcolm Fisher Westwood (1924 - 1995) and James Westwood (1928 - 1999).

Born / Resided

Coatbridge / 41 Coatbank St, Coatbridge

Died

Killed in Action on the 19/01/1916. He received a nasty facial wound at Hulluch

Enlisted

Hamilton 1914

Employed

Clyde Tube Works / Reservist

Age

37 / DOB - 29/12/1879

Buried / Remembered

Bois-Carre Military Cemetery (A. 23), Haisnes, France

Cemetery / Memorial Information

Haisnes village remained in German hands until the final advance in the year 1918, but parts of the commune were gained by British troops in the Battle of Loos. Bois-Carre Military Cemetery is named from a small copse about 274 metres to the South-West. It was begun in September, 1915, and used, largely by the 16th (Irish) Division, until August, 1916, one more grave being added in March 1918. There are over 200, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, nearly a quarter are unidentified and the graves of 47, destroyed by shell fire, are now represented by special memorials. The irregular arrangement of the rows is due to the difficult conditions under which these burials were carried out.

Additional Information

The 12th (Service) Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 10/07/1915 and were part of the 46th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division when John fell. He arrived in France with the 1st Battalion on the 24/03/1915. John was killed with 3 comrades as they arrived to relieve the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) at 9th Avenue trench at Hulluch. He died as he tried to dig out comrades. A nasty facial wound caused his death. John initially enlisted in the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) (1279) on the 20/08/1897, transferring as a Regular to the Royal Scots (6308) on the 07/01/1898 and serving in South Africa and India before joining the Reserve in 1906. He served 18 years in the Army. See Directory for John's brother James' page. John is listed as 4TH BATTALION on the Memorial. A big thanks to Peter Clermonts for the photo of John's son. John is also remembered on the St Patrick's Church Roll of Honour (see photos). See photos for John's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clippings x 3, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report, another photo of John's grave, Bois-Carre Military Cemetery, his South African Medal and Award Rolls x 2, his early Service Record x 6, his early Attestation Papers x 3, John's Pension Record, his previous Regiments the Cameronians and the Royal Scots Cap Badges and the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge. Finally John's son John's CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report, his Reburial forms x 2, his Grave and final resting place and John's photo.

Photos
John Munro Medal Index CardJohn Munro newspaper clippingJohn Munro newspaper clippingJohn Munro newspaper clippingJohn Munro remembered at homeJohn Munro remembered at homeJohn Munro remembered at homeJohn Munro remembered at homeJohn Munro additional photoJohn Munro additional photoJohn Munro additional photoJohn Munro additional photoJohn Munro additional photoJohn Munro additional photoJohn Munro additional photoJohn Munro additional photoJohn Munro additional photoJohn Munro additional photoJohn Munro additional photoJohn Munro additional photoJohn Munro additional photoJohn Munro additional photoJohn Munro additional photoJohn Munro additional photoJohn Munro additional photoJohn Munro additional photoJohn Munro additional photoJohn Munro additional photoJohn Munro additional photoJohn Munro additional photoJohn Munro additional photoJohn Munro additional photoJohn Munro additional photoJohn Munro additional photo

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Comments
I am the great grand daughter of john munro my mums dad was john who was killed in 1944 I never knew of anything of either of my grand father or great grand father thankyou for all 5his information
Helen mcguire, Coatbridge, 11/07/2021 5:03PM

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