WILLIAM JAMES MUNRO

Gunner 39728

William James Munro was born in Crowbann, County Down. When living in Belfast he enlisted at Omagh in the Royal Artillery, and after training was assigned to 405^th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. He died of wounds on 29 July 1917. This may have been during the two week artillery duel which preceded the start of the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) on 31 July 1917.

How he came to Newton Ferrers is not known. He and his wife Laura Jane clearly made their home here, and raised two children – Laura Jane, born on 1 March 1915 and baptized in Holy Cross Church on 11 April 1915, and Edwin William James, born on 24 May 1916 and baptised on 1 October 1916. His wife Laura Jane died on 15 January 1924 aged 35, and is buried in Holy Cross churchyard.

William James Munro is remembered with honour in Balleul Communal Cemetery Extension (Nord) (Plot III.D.284)

Typical conditions for artillery on The Western Front

Gunner William Munro’s Artillery regiment was probably equipped with a 9.2” siege heavy howitzer such as this example in the Imperial War Museum.

It could fire a shell weighing 290lbs a distance of 5.7 miles.

Long range artillery duels frequently took place before the start of major offensives.