Pte 22186 Joseph Stanley Munday

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Stanley was educated at Arnot Street School, Liverpool.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 24 Wellington Avenue, Wavertree, Liverpool. His father, Thomas is aged 56, born in Liverpool in 1855 occupation mariner, his mother, Jane Harrison Munday is aged 51, born 1860 in Liverpool as were their two children. They have been married for twenty four years and have had three children of which one had died. Those listed at home are; Dora Louise aged 21, born 1890 is a draper’s assistant and Joseph Stanley aged 15, is a library assistant in Liverpool University.  

He enlisted in in Liverpool on 05th November 1914 joining the 20^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 22186. He gave his age as 19 years and 214 days and his occupation as a clerk. He was described as being five feet six and three quarter inches tall, weighed 126lbs, 36” chest, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and ginger hair. He stated his religion as Church of England and as next of kin, his father, Thomas, of 24 Wellington Avenue, later mother, 75 Nicander Road.  

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

His father died on 21st February 1915, aged 59, when Stanley was training at Knowsley, near Liverpool. 

Stanley arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

On 26th December 1915 he was sent to No.98 Field Ambulance, then admitted to No.49 Field Ambulance with I.C.T. to the heel, and rejoined his unit in the field the same day 

Stanley was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 21, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive.

The 20^th King’s Battalion Diary records:

“At 4.45am prompt the attack was launched. Unfortunately, a thick mist prevailed and it was impossible to see more than 10 yards ahead. This continued until about 6 o’clock when it lifted slightly, but it was still too hazy and impossible to see what was happening 100 yards ahead. This being so, it was not surprising to find that the attacking waves were experiencing great difficulty in maintaining connection.”

At 6am, Lt. RE Melly, No.1 Company, reported that his men had taken the German Maltz Horn trench.

At 6.30am, 2/Lt. CP Moore reported that he had 150 men, 4 Stokes Mortars and 2 Lewis Guns, but he was the only officer. He also said that due to the fog, both his “flanks were in the air” i.e. he was not in contact with neighbouring troops.

At 9.10am, Moore was still not in contact at his flanks, and now he had only 75 men, he had sent out 2 patrols and neither not returned. Later Moore established communication with the French on his right.

Around 10.00am, 2/Lt Musker reported that he had just over a company with him, but his left flank was suffering from German machine gun fire. Later he reported that he had over 30 casualties from the machine gun fire. His flanks were also “in the air”. No contact was made with this party until the remnants returned around 9.30pm, all runners sent were killed or missing. The War Diary states that this group had: ”held the ground won all day, and this permitted the consolidation of the ground won on the Maltz Horn ridge with little interference from the enemy”.

Relief for 20/Kings had been planned for 11.00pm, but it was 5.00am on the 31st July before it took place, ending a tragic day for the Liverpool Pals.

Casualties for 20^th Battalion were 16 Officers and 357 Other Ranks

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July. 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.

He was listed as Missing in the aftermath of the Battle.

A telegram was sent to Infantry Records from Jones (relationship unknown), of 75 London Road, Liverpool (T.J.Hughes blousemaker) on 15th August 1916:

“Any information 22186 Pte Munday 1st Coy twentieth Kings Lpool after Battle July 30th”

Another was sent on 19th August from Williams (his married sister Dora), 75 Nicander Road:

“Please wire what trace Private Munday 22186 1st Coy 20th Service Batt Kings Lpool”

His name appeared in the list of Missing published in the Liverpool Daily Post on 14th September 1916:

The anguish that the family felt was evident when the following appeal was placed in the Liverpool Echo on 18th October 1916:

PRIVATE MUNDAY MISSING.

Private Stanley Munday K.L.R., is reported wounded and missing since July 30. Will the soldier now home on leave from Pembroke Dock, who was with him when he was wounded, kindly communicate with his mother 75, Nicander - road, Liverpool. 

On 30th October 1916 he was officially declared Killed in Action.

Stanley's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. 

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

He earned his three medals. His British War Medal and Victory Medal were returned for adjustment.

His mother was informed in April 1917 that there were no personal effects of Stanley’s to be sent.

His Army pay of £1 11s 4d and a War Gratuity of £7-10s went to his mother. 

His mother was awarded a pension of eleven shillings a week from 10th April 1917.  

His family paid tribute to Stanley in the Liverpool Echo on 30th July 1917, under the heading, “Lost At The Battle Of Guillemont”:

“Missing, July 30, 1916, then presumed killed on that day, Private J. Stanley Munday (Pals), aged 21 years, dearly-loved only son of J. and the late T. Munday, late 24 Wellington Avenue, and loving brother of Dora Williams, 75, Nicander Road, Sefton Park. (“Love and hope.”)”

He was also remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918:

"In ever-loving remembrance of Signaller J. Stanley Munday, missing, then presumed killed July 30, 1916, dearly-loved only son of J. and the late T. Munday, and loving brother of Dora Williams.  (Hope and love.) - 75, Nicander Road."

Stanley is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Liverpool’s Hall of Remembrance, Panel 21

Liverpool University

St. Bridget’s Church, Wavertree, Roll of Honour

British Librarians Memorial, British Library, London 

He is also commemorated on the family headstone at Toxteth Park cemetery:

J. STANLEY MUNDAY

20TH KING’S LIVERPOOL REGIMENT

KILLED IN ACTION 30TH JULY 1916, AGED 21 YEARS

His mother Jane Harrison Munday died, aged 66, on the 24th March 1926.

We currently have no further information on Joseph Stanley Munday, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.