Lamesley St. Andrew Churchyard
Lamesley St. Andrew Churchyard
In Lamesley St. Andrew's Churchyard is a family headstone which read:-
In
Loving Memory
Of
Hugh Munro
Who died May 15th 1902
Aged 41 years
Also of
Hector
His youngest son
Who died November 13th 1900
Aged 5 months
In Proud and Loving
Memory of
Hugh Donald son of Amy
& Hugh Munro
Lieut. 21st D.L.I. who fell
In Battle near Achiet-le-Grand
March 25th 1918 Aged 25 years
Greater Love hath no man
Than this
Peace Perfect peace
Brenda McMahon has submitted the following;-
Hugh was born at Lamesley in 1893 the son of Hugh and Amy Mary (nee McKenzie). The couple married at Marylebone, London in 1888. His sister, Amy Annie was born in 1892.
The family lived at Novar House, Low Fell. His father’s business was in farming and as a seedsman. The Kelly’s directory of 1902 shows him listed as a nurseryman/seedsman. Unfortunately, Hugh senior died 15th May 1902 leaving an estate valued at £7471 19s. 11d which was a large amount at that time.
By 1903 Amy Mary, his mother had remarried at Chester le Street. Her husband was Thomas Russell Jarvie, a farmer and vet. His business was at 16 Jackson Street, Gateshead. He was a freemason at Ravensworth Lodge.
In 1905 a step sister, Jessie Russell Jarvie, was born.
The 1911 census shows the family (plus servants) living at Wishaw House, Low Fell.
In his obituary, published by Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer 10/04/1918, it states that Hugh was well known in Tyneside Rugby circles and played for Bensham Club before the war.
After joining the army Hugh became a 2nd Lieutenant with the 21st Battalion Durham Light Infatry from the 15th October 1915. He continued at this rank after being transferred firstly to the 23rd Battalion on the 14th January 1916 then on to the 20th Battalion on the 24th August. He was promoted to Lieutenant within the 20th Battalion on the 3rd March 1917 where he served until his death the following year. He was killed in action near Achiet le Grand on the 25th March 1918.
There are few details about his service, however access to the war diaries has been researched so that an indication to the circumstances surrounding Hugh’s death can be shown.
WAR DIARY 20th Battalion Durham Light Infantry Monday 25th March 1918.
A few days prior to the engagement of the enemy on 25 March the battalion was in transit via marches and train journeys in the Albert region. Heavy fighting was encountered en route and gas is noted on several occasions.
FAUREUIL 25 March 1918
"At 1.00am orders were received for the battalion to withdraw to SAPIGNIES and to dig in on the right of the village. The task was commenced about 3.30am.
About 8.00am the enemy attacked SAPIGNIES from our left and obtained the village and about 9.00am owing to the left being ‘in the air’ the battalion withdrew to the ridge along the BIHUCOURT – SAPIGNIES road and dug in. Fire was kept up against the enemy during the withdrawal.
At 1.15pm the enemy captured the village of BIHUCOURT and as the left flank of this battalion was also threatened at the same time the battalion withdrew to a line in the ridge NW of the BIHUCOURT – SAPIGNIES road. The battalion withdrew from this line about 2.00pm and took up a position in support of the 42nd Division east of LOGEST WOOD.
About 7.00pm the troops withdrew and on orders this battalion withdrew to the village of GOMMECOURT where it reorganised. Gas was noted.
CASUALTIES
Officers wounded :- Captain B Wilkinson M.C.; 2nd Lieutenant T S Duddy D.C.M.Missing :- Lieutenant H.D. MunroOther ranks:- Killed 8, Wounded 48, Missing 20 , NYDN 4.”(NYDN is a medical abbreviation meaning ‘not yet diagnosed nervous’ or shell shocked).
Hugh is among 34,816 of his comrades who are commemorated on the Arras Memorial. They have no known grave. The Memorial also lists soldiers from other countries who died during this conflict including South African and New Zealand forces. Hugh is listed on Bay 8.
Recipient of the British War Medal and Victory Medal. He was also ‘mentioned in despatches’ (possibly during the Battle of Baupaume) for which he received an emblem. An emblem is a bronze oak leaf signifying the soldier was mentioned in despatches and is worn as a gallantry award in its own right.
Hugh Donald Munro is remembered at Gateshead in G39.004 and G39.029 and in the DLI Book of Remembrance page 59.
