Pte 34583 Patrick Joseph Munsey

• Age: 22
• From: Lancaster
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 9th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Arras Memorial
  Panel Ref: Bay 3

Patrick Joseph Munsey was born on the 12th January 1895 the son of Thomas Munsey and his wife Elizabeth (nee Biggy/Beggey/Baggie) ) who were married 09th July 1882 at St Anthony's Roman Catholic Church, Liverpool. 

Patrick was born at Lancaster Lunatic Asylum according to his birth certificate. Asylum records state Eliza entered on 02nd May 1894, and moved to Storthes, West Yorkshire on 25th February 1910 until 3rd December 1913.

On the 1891 Census the family are living at 145 Rose Vale, Everton. His father, Thomas, is aged 37, a ware-houseman for a ships bread baker born in Liverpool, mother Eliza is 33 born in Ireland, children born Liverpool, George 6, Ann 4 and Edward 2. They have a niece staying, Mary Ann Quail aged 11 born in Wigan.

A brother Thomas was born in 1893. 

His mother Eliza died, aged 57, in the September quarter of 1916 in Lancaster. 

He enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 18th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 34583 when he was killed in action on the 9th April 1917 aged 22 during the Battle of Arras.

Arras 09^th April 1917

Details of the circumstances the 18^th Battalion had to contend with are illustrated below:

The battalion formed the left assaulting battalion of the brigade, the 2^nd Wiltshire Regiment being on the right, the 19^th Manchester Regiment being in support and 2^nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment furnishing “moppers -up”  for the two assaulting battalions. The brigade advance was timed to begin at ---- hour after “Zero”, suited to conform with the movements of 56^th Division and other divisions on our left further north (near Arras). This battalion’s objective was the front-line system Lion Lane on the left (exclusive) to Panther Lane on right (exclusive). This sector included the strongpoint known as “The Egg”.

The brigade advanced at prearranged time, i.e., 11.38 a.m, from position of assembly trenches south of Neuville Vitasse to German front line. This necessitated an advance across the open of at least 2,000 yards. This area up to Neuville Vitasse- Henin road was crossed in artillery formation; after this, owing to machine-gun fire and considerable resistance from German posts forward in the sunken roads, it was found necessary to deploy. During the whole movement across the open the advancing columns had been under considerable artillery fire from guns of all calibres. On gaining the position immediately in front of German line it was found that the wire was practically uncut; this wire formed two strong belts in front of German trenches. Two small gaps were eventually discovered and Second-Lieut H.F.Merry gallantly led a bombing party through them, but his three remaining men were killed as they reached the German trenches.

From the moment the battalion was “held up” in front of German wire Capt. R. W. Jones, the senior company commander on the spot, at once began the work of consolidating in front of German wire. The battalion held on in this position for the remainder of the day, until relieved by the 16^th Manchester Regiment about 3 a.m. on the 10^th of April, all the time under intense machine-gun and rifle fire.

Between 9th-10th April, 1917, the 18th King's lost 2 officers 2nd Lt. F. Ashcroft and 2nd Lt. H.G. Ewing and 59 other ranks killed. 8 other officers were wounded. 

Joseph's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France.

The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on the 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July).

Soldiers Effects give Next of Kin as his sister Annie Campbell and brothers Thomas and Edward, no Pension record is found. 

Joseph's death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on 04th May 1917.

Private J Munsey age 22 (KLR) has been killed in action.  He joined the army seventeen months ago and had been at the front for twelve months.  Previously he was employed at Fairries Sugar House.  His sister resides at 110a Tatlock Street.  His Officer in a letter says “I beg to convey to you the sincere sympathy of the Officers of the Company in the sad loss of your brother Private Joseph Munsey.

Patrick Joseph is commemorated in the Hall of Remembrance at Liverpool Town Hall on Additions Panel 5.

His brother Edward served as Private 8266 with both the 4th and 13th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regt, embarked 4th March 1915, discharged in 1918 with SWB and a pension, address 110a Tatlock St.