Name
Harry Munt
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
93905
Labour Corps
157th Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Harry Munt was born on 16th July 1877 at Abbots Langley. He was one of eight children (three sons and five daughters) born to John and Emma Munt. His brother Frank also served in the Great War. The 1881 and 1901 Census records show that the family lived at Upper Highway, Abbots Langley, whereas at the time of the 1891 Census they were recorded living at Breakspeare Road in the village. John Munt had various jobs ranging from General Labourer, Gardener, and Cowman. At the time of the 1891 Census Harry was employed as a Paper Colourer at a Paper Factory. By 1901 he had left the family home and lived and worked as a Groom at Serge Hill near Bedmond.
He attested on 8th October 1915 and was posted to the Army Reserve on 8th December 1915. At the time he lived in Buckinghamshire and worked as a Gardener. Harry was mobilised at Oxford on 23th March 1916 and was posted to the 16th Battalion of the Berkshire Regiment. On 28th March he was attached to the Somerset Light Infantry and on the same day posted to the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry (DCLI).
Harry’s badly damaged Service Record indicated that he embarked at Southampton on 7th May 1916 and arrived at Le Harve the next day. He was first recorded in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour in June 1916, serving with the DCLI.
He was appointed Lance Corporal on 7th June 1916, but on 9th September reverted to the rank of Private at his own request. Harry’s record in the National Roll of the Great War detailed that he was in action at the Battle of the Somme, and at battles at Arras, Ypres, Cambrai and St Quentin.
The Parish Magazine recorded that Harry was serving with the 157th Labour Company of the Labour Corps in June 1918. This may have been due to him being 41 years of age, and was becoming too old for front line service with the infantry. He served with this unit in many sectors until the Armistice. Harry was recorded in the Absent Voter Lists for Autumn 1918 and Spring 1919 still serving with the 157th Labour Company. He was posted for Dispersal on 17th February 1919, and demobilised on 20th February of the same year.
Harry Munt survived the War, as did his cousins Arthur and Leonard Munt. His brother Frank also survived the War and was listed in the Langleybury records for the Great War.
Additional Information
Formerly 16th Battalion Berkshire Regiment & Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
