On Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium is the name of Captain Joseph Thompson Monkhouse, serving with the 6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry who died 27/4/1915.

The son of Octavius and Mary Hannah Monkhouse, of “Fairfield,” Stanhope, Co. Durham and the husband of Bessie Vickers Brown-Humes (formerly Monkhouse), of Prospect House, Hamsterley, Witton le Wear, Co. Durham. He was an old Christ’s Hospital boy and a Territorial Officer for several years prior to the War.

Acknowledgments: Heather Ross.

Rev. Youngson has submitted the following:-

Captain Joseph Thompson Monkhouse
Durham Light Infantry 6th Battalion (Territorial)

The son of Octavius and Mary Hannah Monkhouse of Fairfield Stanhope, Co. Durham. He was educated at Christs Hospital and had been a Territorial Officer since 1907. An Electrical Engineer, he was Initiated into Hudson Lodge No 2791, Durham on the 6th February 1907; Passed 6th March 1907 and Raised on the 3rd April 1907, resigning in 1913. He was a Founder Member of Stanhope Lodge No 3520, Durham in 1911. He was killed in action on the 27th April 1915 aged 29. The husband of Bessie Vickers Brown-Humes (formerly Monkhouse) of Prospect House, Hamsterley, Witton le Wear, Co. Durham. Remembered on the Ypres Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium Memorial Panel 36 & 38.

Kevin Richardson has provided the following service information:

Joseph Monkhouse had been a member of the Territorial Force since 1906, rising to the rank Lieutenant in the 6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry, the local territorial battalion which was part of the Northumbrian Division.  These men were part-time soldiers who volunteered to protect the UK, and their original enlistment was for home service only.

At the end of July 1914, nearly half of the Northumbrian Division including the five Durham Territorial Battalions were at camp for their annual 15 days training, the Durham Brigade was at Conway, Wales.  As the international situation deteriorated, the Territorials were mobilized.  On 3 August, they were recalled to their home base where the 1st/6th Battalion was formed in Bishop Auckland as part of the Durham Light Infantry Brigade, Northumbrian Division which in May 1915 became the 151st Brigade of the 50th Division.

Between 16 and 19 April 1915, the 50th Division embarked for France. Captain Joseph Monkhouse entered France 19 April 1915 with his battalion, straight into the Second Battle of Ypres, which was fought from 14th April – 2nd June 1915.

The 50th (Northumbrian) Division had just arrived in Belgium. The strength of the Division on landing in France was 572 officers and 16,858 other ranks.  Steenvoorde, west of Ypres, had been allotted to the Division.  The last units arrived 22 April.  The men would have expected a short period of training behind the line but that was not to be.

At 10.40pm, news came in of a German attack near Langemarck/Bixschoote.  10 minutes later an order was received to have 6 companies of the York & Durham Infantry Brigade fully equipped, ready to move by motor-bus.  At 11.29pm, another order came requiring all units to stand by billets, fully equipped and ready to turn out immediately.  However, the Northumbrian Division did not take part in any fighting at this time.

The Battle of St. Julien
24 April: the enemy’s guns opened fire and for the first time the York & Durham Brigade was shelled, wounding several men and the Northumbrian Division suffered its first casualties of the war.

Sunday, 25th April was the first day 1st/6th Battalion DLI spent in the trenches.  However, in the evening, orders were received to march to Velorenhoek village.  The battalion now came under the orders of the 85th Brigade.

26 April, 1st/6th DLI was ordered to take up positions between Zonnebeke level crossing and Hill 37 and “attack, by fire, any bodies of the enemy who might attempt to cross their front.”

The whole operation was under direct observation by enemy balloons and as soon as the companies moved, an intense barrage was put down.   At 6pm on the 26th April, the Battalion was ordered to move in support of 7 DLI and a Battalion of the Shropshire Light Infantry who were to attack a hill held by the enemy.  The advance was made through the usual heavy enemy bombardment.  On reaching the ridge “B” Company was ordered forward to fill a gap in the front line …for “B” Company this was the beginning of a 5-day ordeal in front line trenches.  Constantly shelled by the Germans during the day, repairing and improving their trenches during the night and with little food and sleep, the Company held the position until relieved on the 30th April. One of those dead was Captain J.T. Monkhouse, killed in action on 27 April 1915.

Everard Wyrall, the 50th Division’s Historian concluded “Thus ended the Battle of St. Julien, which will for all time will be memorable in the history of the Northumbrian Division.  Tried in fire, the Territorials had not been found wanting; their pre-war training, their courage, their tenacity and endurance, had all been put to the crucial test and they had emerged, praised and honoured by the Regular Army, by whose side they fought the common enemy.”

John Davies of Oswestry states that Capt. Monkhouse is also remembered on the memorial gates at Oswestry, where he went to manage a quarry owned/leased by his father.

See attached sheet below, submitted by John Davies.

The Consett Guardian 07/05/1915 reports:-
Memorial Service at Heathery Cleugh, Weardale
A memorial service to the late Captain J.T. Monkhouse who was killed in action last week was conducted by the Rev. J. Harrison in Heathery Cleugh new Parish Church. A large congregation testified to the sorrow of the community. Captain Monkhouse was a native of the parish. His father Mr O. Monkhouse, is the owner of the whinstone quarries and his grandfather, the late Rev. G. Monkhouse was Vicar for 25 years. Captain Monkhouse was a member of the Hudson Lodge of Freemasons. Several members of the Craft were present at the service. Much sympathy is felt for his widow and child and his bereaved parents and relatives. At the conclusion of the service Miss S.W. Harrison played the “Dead March.”

Joseph Thompson Monkhouse is remembered at Cowshill on C118.05, at Stanhope on S134.01, S134.02 and S134.04, in the Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-18 (London)  as being a member of two lodges 2791 Hudson Lodge at Wolsingham and 3520 Stanhope Lodge at Stanhope, in Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-18 Rev. Youngson Part 3 and in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance page 102.