No.33865, Lance Corporal, Edmund Walter MUNNS
Aged 24
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Edmund Walter Munns was born in Newmarket in 1893 (Newmarket Q1-1894 3B:528), son of William and Hannah MUNNS (née HEFFER).
1901 census...Aged 7. he was at 17 Lowther Street, Newmarket with his father William MUNNS [52] a navvy born Landwade; his mother Hannah [47] born Exning; sister Thirza [15] born Exning; sisters Maud [13], Mabel [11] and Edith [5], all born in Newmarket. 1911 census...Aged 17, a greengrocer's assistant, he was at Church Lane, Barton Mills with his parents (father now a maltster); brother William James [34] (butler) and sister Edith Sarah (now recorded as born Barton Mills) and Irene Miriam [4] entered as grand daughter of William and Hannah but n place of birth, or parentage recorded. His parents are recorded as being at Vine Cottage, Barton Mills by CWGC. He married Esther BULLMAN (Hampstead Q1-1916 1A:1557). Their daughter Cicely A.T. MUNNS was born in 1917. Their address later was Leicester Home, Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, Norwich. |
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He enlisted in Westminster when resident there. A post war history of Edmund's battalion included the following for 17th July 1917: "On the morning of the 17th, with the 6th Queen's and 6th Royal West Kents, on their right, the Essex men delivered the counter-attack. The South Country battalions entered their objective in Long Trench and held on with varying fortune until the arrival of reinforcements at night enabled the enterprise to be completely accomplished. The 9th Essex secured their line of posts, but were enfiladed from a point in Long Trench, which had not been taken and they had to retire. A party, under 2nd Lieut. Peters, M.C., in particular, fought magnificently, but the enemy were in too great a strength. The Battalion held on to a series of positions which connected Long Trench with the front line. The 5th Royal Berkshires renewed the effort from the Essex front, but without material success, and the opposing lines became stabilised." The actual battalion war diary simply reports: 17th - 04:45 am The Battn together with 6th Bn R West Kent R attacked LONG TRENCH..separate report attached." CWGC records 39 of the 9th Essex killed that day, only 3 have identified graves, the rest are named on the Arras Memorial. scene of the action on 17th July 1917 photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission and also on the Leicestershire Roll of Honour click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
