Name
Arthur Muncey
1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
30/07/1916
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
4139
Hertfordshire Regiment
Att 3rd Gloucester Regiment
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LOOS MEMORIAL
Panel 135.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, 4 Co' Hertfordshire Reg' Territorials’ Memorial, Hitchin, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, Hertfordshire Regimental Memorial, All Saints Church, Hertford
Pre War
Arthur was born in 1898 in Hitchin and christened on 17 April 1898 in St. Mary’s Church, Hitchin . His parents were William C and Charlotte Muncey (née Hill).
In 1901 the family were living at 2 Ship Yard, Queen’s Street, Hitchin. Present were both parents: William (25) who worked as a bricklayer’s labourer and Charlotte (20) who worked as a straw plaiter. Their children were: Arthur (3) and Richard (1). A ‘visitor’ Fanny Hill (6) was also there.
By 1911 the family had moved to 18 Barnards Yard, Queen Street, Hitchin. Present were both parents, with William now working as a general labourer for the Town Council. The census recorded they had been married for 15 years with 9 children, of whom 3 had died. Fanny, mentioned above, was now recorded as Fanney Hill Muncey 16 and a daughter – presumably Charlotte’s child from before her marriage to William. The other children listed were Arthur at 14 working as a labourer in a tanyard, Jess (12), William (10), Harry (6) and Elizabeth Rose (3).
Before he enlisted he was an employee of the Hitchin Urban District Council and was a member of the Union Jack Football team and Miss Farmer's bible class.
He enlisted into the Hertfordshire Regiment as Private 4139, meaning that he enlisted between 5th November 1914 and 13th December 1914. His father also served.
Officially Arthur was recorded as living in Hitchin, Herts., when he enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
Arthur enlisted into the Hertfordshire and probably saw service with them, when he died he was attached to the 3rd Gloucester Regiment. According to he pension card, he was first recorded as missing in action in France. It seems unlikely that he family though that this was the case for long as the local paper reported him dead on August 19th “The first intimation of his death was received from an aunt at Hemel Hempstead, who wrote that a next door neighbour in the regiment was with Pte. Muncey when he fell, and helped to bury him.” This report went on to report that Arthur’s father was Pte. William Muncey, 1st Beds Regiment and he was in hospital at Cardiff, having been wounded recently and added that it was feared that he may lose his sight in both eyes.
Another report suggested that a shell hit him and that his last words were "I am finished. Let mother know".
Although he was buried his grave must have been lost in future actions and was identified after the war so he is remembered on the Loos Memorial to the Missing in France.
Additional Information
After his death £3 9s 7d pay owing was written in his soldier’s effect record, but with no details of if or to whom it was paid, However a war gratuity of £7 10s was authorised to be paid to his father, William, on 29 December 1919.
His pension cards record Charlotte Muncy, his mother, as his dependant, living at 10 Chapman’s Yard, Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 5s a week from 15 May 1917.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
