John Munro                            Age 20

Regimental No.20644            Lance Corporal       Royal Scots

Died of wounds                                                         14 April 1918 while a Prisoner of War           

Buried                                                                         Braine le Comte, Belgium

 

Personal Background

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No direct link with the village has been discovered so far and any information would be welcome.

 

The John Munro identified by this regimental number was born 1897 in Edinburgh to Charles and Isabella Munro.  The 1901 Census shows the couple living at 75 Dundee Street, Edinburgh, with John, aged 3 and sister, Janet.  The Father's job was with a  Rubber company, probably as a general labourer.  It appears John enlisted in Galashiels, so perhaps he was working in the Borders by then.  His parents were living at 9 Earl Grey Street in Edinburgh at the time of his death.

 

Military Background

 

On 18 March 1918 a heavy bombardment was begun by the enemy at 03.00. Gas shells were sent over on battery positions.  At 05.50 an SOS was reported on the front of the brigade on the right.  At 06.00 a message was received from the right forward company of the 6th Cameron Highlanders that 7th Camerons had reported an enemy attack. At 06.21 a message was received from the same company that they had moved half the company forward 150 yards in front of KILT.  Up to this time no messages had been received from other companies since the telephone wires were out of order. Runners were sent out to get in touch but did not return, and eventually all runners were out with the exception of the Commanding Officers'.  At 06.58 observers from the 11th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in reserve in the ARMY LINE sought information.  At 07.15 6th Camerons reported by phone that the 8/10th Gordon Highlands, who were in support, said nothing was apparent on their front but an SOS went up from the 3rd Divisional front. 

 

At 07.45 it was reported that Germans could be seen coming over the ridge on the north of the Cambrai Road.  Battalion HQ immediately stood to and took up a position in front of the HQ, bringing rapid fire to bear on the advancing enemy.  At the same time,  parties of mixed Battalions who were retiring were steadied and a firing line formed.  There were still detachments holding out to the east of Feuchy Chapel Road. By this time the enemy could be seen advancing on the south of the Cambrai Road and machine guns began to open fire.  Two of these were located and put out of action by British snipers.  A rearguard action was fought, passing through the Support Battalion to the ARMY LINE which was held by the 11th Argylls.  A line of outposts were put out by the Camerons and Royal Scots.  From accounts subsequently received,  it appears that the enemy broke through on the right and the remnants of the Battalion, finding themselves outflanked, were obliged to fall back, fighting a rearguard action.  Positions were taken up and a stand made on a line 200 yards in front of Feuchy Chapel Road till 11.00 when, both flanks having been turned, the line fell back to 200 yards north of Feuchy Chapel crossroads.  Though there was no one on their flanks, they held on here for a time and then fell back to the ARMY LINE north of the Wancourt Road.  Posts were put out in front of Bois Des Boeufs. 

 

At midnight the Battalion was withdrawn under orders from Brigade and accommodated that night at Battalion HQ.  12 officers and 148 other ranks were collected.  The casualties were 2 officers killed, 9 officers missing, 6 other ranks killed, 140 wounded and 195 missing.  Included in those "missing" would be Lance Corporal Munro, who would appear to have been wounded and captured by the Germans.  He was taken eastwards, presumably to a POW hospital near Braine le Comte, where he died two weeks after capture.