Herts at War - a community led project to commemorate the diverse experiences of Hertfordshire during the First World War.

Name

Henry George Munt
1891

Conflict

First World War

Date of Death / Age

24/09/1920
28

Rank, Service Number & Service Details

Private
26024
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.

Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards

British War and Victory medals

Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country

HITCHIN CEMETERY
SE. CL. VIII. B.
United Kingdom

Headstone Inscription

Not Researched

UK & Other Memorials

Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, Not on the Letchworth memorials

Pre War

Henry (junior) was born in 1891 in Hitchin and christened on 3 March 1892 in St. Mary’s Church, Hitchin . His parents were Henry Alexander and Ada Bella Munt.

In 1901 the family were living at Maidencroft Lane, St Ippolyts, nr Hitchin. Present were both parents: Henry (41) and Ada (31), with Henry (senior) working as a house painter. Their children were: Henry George (9), Thomas Robert Hulland (7), Robert Alexander (4) and Ivy Agnes Patricia (10 months).

By 1911 the family had moved to 13 Cannons Gardens, Hitchin Hill, Hitchin. Still present were both parents, with Henry (senior) still working as a house painter. The census recorded they had been married for 20 years with 7 children, all living. All the children listed above were present; Henry now 19 and a hairdresser, Thomas now 17 and a domestic gardener and Robert now 14 and an errand boy for a draper. They had new sisters Florry (7) and Nellie (4) and brother Walter (1).

Henry (junior) married Violet Louise Page (b 30/11/1892) on 24 June 1916 in the Clothall Parish Church.

He attested on 11 December 1915, probably under the Derby Scheme(*1). He had been medically examined on 29 November 1915 and although quite tall for the time, he was of slight build and was described as 5’ 6 ¼” tall and 112 lbs with a 34” chest - when fully expanded, and had 5 teeth missing.

Wartime Service

Henry was mobilized on 9 February 1916 in Hitchin. He was 24 years old and living at 13 Cannons Cottages, Hitchin and working as a hairdresser. He was posted to the 4th Bedfords on ‘Home’ service and training from 9 February 1916 to 23 July 1916, when he left for France arriving the next day. He was clearly not a well man as the timeline of his service (below) shows.

He was posted to the Depot on 8 October 1916 and back in the UK between 9 October 1916 to 11 March 1917. During which time he was in the 3rd Northern General Hospital in Sheffield between 9 October and 21 November 1916 with Furnucle(*2) of his knee. He was then posted to the 3rd Battalion on 1 December 1916.

On the 12 March 1917 he was posted back to France via the Base Depot in France. Then posted to the 7th Bn. Bedfords in April. Suffered from bronchitis in September spending much of the rest of the year being treated.

He was granted leave from 5 February to 19 February 1918 before returning to action and was wounded in his right thigh by a shell or gun shot – reports vary – on 24 April 1918 and spent time being treated, before his bronchitis returned and returning to England late January 1919

He was in hospital, this time the 1st Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge with bronchitis between 27 January 1919 and 24 March 1919. A medical report was compiled during March, it was noted that he suffered from bronchitis three times while he had been in the Army. The report gave other information about his condition. His bronchitis was described as chronic, he had a rapid heart, it noted his previous gun shot wound (previously described as a shell wound) and that his condition was attributable to his war service.

There was also a written statement made by Henry on 10 March 1919, he said that he had bronchitis caused by exposure in September 1916. He had spent time in three French hospitals; 73 General Hospital at Trouville, 56 and 4 General Hospital in Etaples. His last employer had been Mrs W Harvey Hairdressers in Bucklersbury, Hitchin, where he too was a hairdresser.

His was discharged as no longer physically fit for war service on 24 March-1919 with his disability recorded as bronchitis attributable (lung) capacity lessened 60%, not permanent 12 months.

A temporary pension was awarded at 60% of pension, 16s 6d from 25 March 1919 for 13 weeks then at 30% of pension, 8s 3d to be reviewed after 39 weeks.

After discharge under King's Regulation 392 (xvi), a Silver War Badge number B166666 was awarded to acknowledge his service and that was sent to him at Quickswood, Kershaws Hill, Hitchin. He acknowledge receipt on 14 May 1919

His pension card recorded that he died of tuberculosis as a result of being gassed, but gassing is not mentioned elsewhere, and he is buried in Hitchin Cemetery in Grave southeast 88.

When he died he was living at 6 Churchyard, Hitchin.

The following is a chronological overview of his service(*1)

Home Service: 9 February 1916 to 23 July 1916

10 February 1916 – posted to 4th Bn. Bedfords.

Overseas Service France: 24 July 1916 to 8 October 1916

24 July 1916 - embarked for France.
4 August 1916 - admitted to 1 Royal Naval Field Ambulance - bronchitis.
12 August 1916 - returned to duty.
6 September 1916 - admitted 1 Royal Naval Field Ambulance TB (tuberculosis) lungs.
7 September 1916 - admitted 22 Casualty Clearing Station - pulmonary tuberculosis.
11 September 1916 - from 22 CCS to 9 Ambulance Train.
11 September 1916 - admitted to 4 General Hospital.
8 October 1916 - debility and boil of left knee to England by Hospital Ship.

Home Service: 9 October 1916 to 11 March 1917

9 October to 21 November 1916 in 3rd Northern General Hospital in Sheffield.
9 October 1916 – posted to Depot.
1 December 1916 - posted to 3rd Bn. Bedfords.

Overseas Service France: 12 March 1917 to 27 January 1919

12 March 1917 - posted to 17 Base Depot in France.
1 April 1917 - posted to 7th Bedfords.
13 September 1917 - admitted to 54 Field Ambulance - bronchitis.
14 September 1917 - admitted to 10 SN(?) with NYN(?) mild.
27 September 1917 - admitted to 7 Convalescent Depot - bronchitis.
30 December 1917 - joined “L” 9(?) Battalion from Marl,(?) Camp.
23 January 1918 – reposted to 7th Bedfords.
19 February 1918 - granted leave from 5 February 1918 to 19 February 1918
2 April 1917 - posted to 7th Bedfords.
24 April 1918 - wounded in action.
23(sic) April 1918 – to 2/3 Field Ambulance – BW (bullet wound) thigh.
25 April 1918 - admitted 47 Casualty Clearing Station.
26(sic) April 1918 - admitted 1 Australian General Hospital (recorded as SW shrapnel wound right thigh).
25 April 1918 - admitted to 73 General Hospital (recorded as GSW gun shot wound right thigh).
11 July 1918 - admitted to 121 Convalescent Depot.
27 August 1918 - admitted to 73rd General Hospital - bronchitis.
7 November 1918 - admitted to 121 Convalescent Depot - bronchitis.
23 December 1918 - posted to 2nd Bedfords for records.
14 January 1919 - admitted to 56 General Hospital - bronchitis mild.

Home Service: 28 January 1919 to 24 March 1919

27 January 1919 - returned to England.
27 January 1919 to 24 March 1919 - 1st Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge with bronchitis.
During March 1919 a medical report was compiled, prior to discharge.
24 March-1919 – Discharged as no longer physically fit for war service.

Civilian:

25 March 1919 he became a civilian.

He died on 24 September 1920 and is buried in Hitchin Cemetery in Grave southeast 88, with a private, non-CWGC headstone.

When he died he was living at 6 Churchyard, Hitchin.

Additional Information

Henry received a grant of £25 which was made by the Military on 20 August 1919 for the purposes of starting a hairdresser’s business. His address was recorded as Quickswood, Kershaws Hill, Hitchin.

He received his own war medals and signed for them on 3 May 1921.

His pension cards record Violet Louisa Munt as his widow and dependant, living at 11 Churchyard, Hitchin. She was awarded a grant of £5 paid on 14 December but there are no details of any pension awarded, however elsewhere this was recorded as 20s a week from 29 September 1920. One card recorded that he died of tuberculosis as a result of being gassed, but this information does not appear elsewhere.

After Henry's death Violet remarried and became Mrs Ellis of 37, Glebe Rd., Letchworth, Herts.

Of his brothers Thomas Munt also died of illness ‘in service’ after the war ended and Robert Munt served in the Cambridgeshire Regiment and survived.

Henry's headstone (not CWGC) reads:

IN LOVING MEMORY OF HENRY GEORGE
THE DEARLY LOVED HUSBAND OF VIOLET LOUISA MUNT
WHO DIED SEPT. 24TH 1920 AGED 28 YEARS
WE CANNOT LORD, THEY PURPOSE SEE, BUT ALL IS WELL, THATS(sic) DONE BY THEE

*1 The Lord Derby Scheme encouraged men to voluntarily register their name on the principle that once registered they would be called up for service only when necessary. As an added incentive married men were advised that they would only be called up once the supply of single men was exhausted.

*2 A medical term for a boil, which is a painful, pus-filled bump that forms under the skin when a hair follicle is infected by bacteria.

*3 Please note there may be some errors due to dates and abbreviations being difficult to read (faint or difficult handwriting). Also generally, the terms used are written in abbreviated form on his service record and may be open to different interpretation.

Acknowledgments

Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild