Name
Ernest John Munby
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
31/01/1915
39
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lieutenant
Royal Engineers
1st East Anglian Field Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MILITARY CEMETERY, RICHEBOURG-L'AVOUE
II. A. 7.
France
Headstone Inscription
In loving memory
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Saviour's Church War Memorial, Radcliffe Rd., Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin
Pre War
He was born in Turvey Rectory on the 19th May 1875, son of the Rev. George Frederick Woodhouse and Harriet Louisa Munby (née Linton, b 19/5/1875). 9, of Turvey Rectory, Turvey, Beds. He was the Rector of Turvey from 1869 to 1905 and that was the family’s address in the censuses up to 1911.
In 1881 Ernest’s parents were 47 and 36 respectively, and the household included children: Henry E. (6), Ernest John (5) and Florence E. (2) and the servants: Annie Elliot (32 and the cook), Caroline Heffermon (30), Emily Barley (18) and Annie Morris (17),
Servant
In 1891 the household included parents, all three children listed above, then governess Mary N Horsfall (22), visitor Dorothy A Bowden (10), servants Annie Elliot (cook) and Caroline Heffernon were still with them plus Emma Mitchell (18) and Amy Burton (18).
By 1901 the family were still at the Rectory with their daughter Florence. Their two eldest servants remained with them plus two new servants. Ernest had left the family home and was probably being educated at Rugby. Afterwards Ernest was at the Stevens Institute at Hoboken in the U.S.A. where he obtained a degree in mechanical engineering. He then worked as a mining engineer in Colorado and Borneo, then helped to build tunnels under the Hudson River in New York. Later he was employed by the Gardner Electric Dill and Hammer Company and just before the war he was working at St. John's Mine, Montezuma, Colorado.
Ernest married Emily Louisa Ann Turner-Emery (née Coxhead) on 7 November 1905 at St Augustine’s Church, Croydon. She was the widow of Capt. Herbert Turner-Emery. At that time Ernest’s address was given as Cambridge House, Camberwell, London SE and Emily’s as Sowerlayton, Haling Park Row, Camberwell, London SE.
In 1911 presumably Ernest was abroad with his wife. His parents had moved to Hitchin and were living at Highfield, Wymondley Road. George at 77 was no longer a Rector but recorded as a Clerk in Holy Orders and Harriet was 66. Annie Elliot, now 62 , but still the cook and Caroline Hefferman (60) had moved with them. The census recorded they had been married for 38 years with 3 children, all living.
His father died on 15 May 1911.
At the outbreak of the War Ernest returned to England and volunteered for service.
Wartime Service
After volunteering he obtained a commission and was Gazetted on the 14th September 1914, in the 1st East Anglian Field Company, Royal Engineers. He was sent to the front on Christmas Eve 1914 and was killed in action near Bethune.
There was considerable activity, if no major engagements, in the area where he is buried. He was possibly engaged in tunnelling and counter-tunnelling operations, which were also going on about the time of his death.
Additional Information
A private inscription on the headstone reads "In loving memory", which was ordered by his widow, Mrs E L A Munby, her address given as Empress Club(*1), 35 Dover Street, London, W 1.
His widow requested his British War and Victoria medals on when she was living at Flat 3, 36 Buckingham Gate, London SW1 and then his 1915 Star on 31 December 1918, while living at 6 Carlisle Mansions, Victoria, London SW1.
*1 The building was historically home to the exclusive women-only Empress Club. Purpose-built for the opening of the club in 1887 and inaugurated by Queen Victoria.
Acknowledgments
Derry Warners
David C Baines, Jonty Wild
