Name
Henry James (poss Harry James) Monk
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/09/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
14548
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CARNOY MILITARY CEMETERY
O. 2.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hatfield Town Memorial, Hatfield In Memoriam Book
Pre War
Henry was the son of Henry George (sometimes George Henry) and Jane Monk, born in Hatfield circa 1891. He was christened in Hatfield on 20th September 1891.
In the 1891 census. The family were living at Wild Hill, Canfield Lane, Hatfield. Henry was just 1 month old and a second son. Huis father was an agricultural labourer. In 1901 Henry was now aged 10. The family were living in Warren Wood, Essendon. His father was still working as a domestic gardener. The in 1911 the family were still in Hornbeam Lane, Warren Wood, Essendon, but Henry (junior) is absent. He father was still working as a domestic gardener. We have yet to find Henry J Monk.
Officially recorded as born in Hatfield and was living there when he enlisted in Hertford.
Wartime Service
Henry was Private 14548, 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment and he went to France on 29th April 1915., Battalion: Number:
On the date of his death the Battalion War Diary recorded: “18 Sep 1915 All water, stores, meals &c. have to be carried Distances varying from 1/2 mile to 1 mile, by hand. Combined with the length of trenches to be guarded, this fatigue work leaves very few men available for the urgent alterations required in the defences & throws a severe strain on all ranks. Casualties - 1 Killed. 1 Wounded.” It appears Henry was the man killed."
The Bishop’s Hatfield Parish Magazine of October 1914, in the second list of men mobilised from Hatfield, recorded: “Harry Monk – Warren Wood – 4th Beds Regt.” then in August 1915: “written by Harry telling of the death of Lieut, Rupert Cecil.....................A mine has just blown a part of our trench up and killed several men, also Lieut. Cecil, whom we are all sorry to lose; it gives us a shaking..........I must tell you we have been relieved from the trenches so I write a bit more; we are ten or twelve miles back now; it is a treat to see people again; I expect we shall have a good rest this time. I am glad to get away from that place. It is a pity we lost so many just before we came away, from that mine, it was the worst one they had ever fired against us, it blew the ground up hundreds of feet high, as that went off they fired shrapnel for an hour: that is how Lieut. Cecil got killed, a piece catching him through the head; he had still got his smile when we buried him.” and finally in October 1915: “Harry Monk. – We regret deeply to announce that Harry Monk, from Warren Wood, of the 1st Beds. was killed on the 17th September. His parents received a letter from his, a stretcher-bearer, giving the sad news and showing how he was killed almost instantaneously as he was on outpost duty in the middle of the night. He died doing his duty, and nothing greater can be said of any man. We venture to express warm sympathy with Mr. and Mrs. Monk who are so sorely afflicted in their loss of a son who was most dear to them, and who was a gallant enthusiastic soldier, thinking nothing of hardships, only of his duty.”
Awarded the Victory Medal, British War Medal & 1915 Star.
Additional Information
Hatfield Parish Council Souvenir Committee Ledger: Mrs Monk (Mother) of Warren Wood received an “In Memoriam and Roll of Honour Album”.
A letter from volunteer co-ordinator to the Committee.
Nov 9 -1919
Dear Sir,
I return the list checked as far as I can.
The Monks & A. Purton live in cottages which are I believe actually on the border of Essendon Parish, but they are always counted as Hatfield & are visited by Hatfield Clergy.
The names left on the list seem to be correct. In some cases I have not had time to find out the Regt. but this you will get on the p.cards.
Acknowledgments
Jonty Wild, Christine & Derek Martindale, Hatfield Local History Society (www.hatfieldhistory.uk)
