Name
James Munday
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/03/1917
37
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
30320
Essex Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BISHOP'S HATFIELD (ST. LUKE) CHURCHYARD
2. I. 19.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Mark’s Church Plaque, Colney Heath, Hatfield Town Memorial, St Luke's Church Memorial, Bishops Hatfield, We are not aware of any memorial in Smallford
Pre War
Born in Smallford, Hertfordshire and lived in Butterwick Cottages, Smallford (1881, 1891, 1901 and 1911 census).
His parents were James and Charlotte Munday and he was married to Kate Munday (nee Hale). The CWGC records suggest that James was born circa 1881, the census of the time shows the Munday family living at Butterwick Cottages. However, James is not listed as one of the children of James and Charlotte Munday, those who are listed are Frederick, Mary, Martha and Mark. The St Mark’s Baptism Register records James as being baptised on 25th March 1883 and he first appears on the 1891 census aged 2, when the family were still living at Butterwick Cottages. The other children in the household at that time were William, George, Emily and Arthur. The census data from 1901 indicates that James Munday (Senior) died sometime during that period and that James had another brother, Arthur (3 years older) and an adopted sister Ada Slough (7 years younger), both living with them at the time of the 1901 census. The 1911 census indicates that James Munday (Junior) was living at Butterwick Cottages with his mother Charlotte, who is recorded as a widow.
On 4th August 1913 at the age of 30, James married Kate Hale (24) in St Mark’s Church. Shortly after they are married on 1st December 1913 a daughter, Emily, was born and she was baptised in St Mark’s Church on 25th January 1914. He was recorded as a farm labourer in 1901 and a general labourer, in a timber merchant’s yard in 1911. There are two boarders living at the same address, both at school.
Officially recorded as born in Hatfield and was living there when he enlisted in St Albans.
Wartime Service
James was Private 30320, 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment Number:
The Bishop’s Hatfield Parish Magazine of April 1917, recorded: “James Munday - 1st Essex Regiment.”
Awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal.
Additional Information
James is buried in the family grave in Bishop's Hatfield (St. Luke) Churchyard. His part of the inscription reads:
PTE. JAMES MUNDAY 30321(*1) ESSEX REGIMENT MARCH 18TH 1917 AGED 37 YEARS (EGYPT)
*1 30320 in the CWGC and SDITGW records.
It is likely that James attended Colney Heath School, as James’s brother Arthur is noted in the log (6th March 1889): “Arthur Munday still suffers continually from some disease of the ear, rendering him deaf and otherwise interfering with his mental faculties. He cannot progress with the standard and requires exceptional treatment”. This would explain why Arthur did not serve.
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: James Munday is listed as not a Hatfield man; his widow had remarried, living at Ellenbrook.
Acknowledgments
Graham Clark – World War One – The Fallen of London Colney, Grace Clark, Jonty Wild, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
