David Munro

Killed in Action on the 22/08/1917. Shot in the head by a sniper during the 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele)

David and the Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 09/07/1915 and were part of the 44th Brigade,15th (Scottish) Division. David was shot in the head by a sniper whilst acting as an escort runner for his Lieutenant on a mission to alter advanced positions before an attack during the 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). 6 Platoons of the 9th Gordons (Pioneers) were given the sole purpose of consolidating and holding Hill 35 when taken. On the 22nd August the Platoons of the 9th Gordons, who had come up to consolidate Hill 35, had reached Pommern Redoubt and proceeded towards Hill 35. Finding the position somewhat obscure it was decided to dig in and form a defensive flank from the hill to Pommern a line running along the road and onwards in the direction of the Somme. Lieutenant-Colonel T.G. Taylor, 9th Gordons, who had accompanied the 6 Platoons ordered 2 of them to consolidate a line running along the road leading north from Pommern. 2 more Platoons to prolong the line from Pommern to the Somme and 1 Platoon to dig trenches at the rear about 300 yards south-east of the Somme. The remaining Platoon were ordered to dig posts, 30 yards apart, behind his leading Platoons. By carrying out this work the Pioneers suffered heavily. From the 05/08/1917 to the 31/08/1917 the 9th Gordon Highlanders (Pioneers) had 3 Officers Killed, 23 Other Ranks Killed, 7 Officers Wounded, 102 Other Ranks Wounded and 5 Other Ranks Missing. The Battles of Ypres, 1917 (Third Ypres), 31st July ' 10th November 1917 : The British finally got what they had wanted since 1914 : the opportunity to attack at Ypres and breakout of the confines of the salient of trenches around it. Often known as the Third Battle of Ypres or Passchendaele, the offensive began with encouraging gains but terrible summer weather soon bogged it down. By August the offensive was clearly failing in its objectives and had descended into attritional fighting. New techniques by both sides led to agonisingly slow forward movement for the British, at enormous cost in casualties to both sides. Bad weather in October led to the battlefield becoming an impossible quagmire. A thank you to Lynn from Slough, England who helped with the family information and the additional photograph of David, also a big thanks to Moira Laird who gave me the information on her Aunt Jessie and has been very helpful and Paul McBride who supplied the family photo (his Great Grandmother was Agnes (Nan) who is on the left of the picture). See Newspaper clippings for a letter sent to David's brother John from Private Duncan Muirhead and for one sent to David's mother from Lieutenant W. N. Allan. I personally laid a Poppy Cross at David's grave in 2010 (see main grave photo and photos). David is also remembered on the Middle United Free Church Roll of Honour (see photos). David was reburied in Tyne Cot Cemetery. He was identified by his wallet (see Reburial photo). See photos for David's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clippings x 4, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, Tyne Cot Cemetery, the Gordon Highlanders Cap Badge, another photo of David, his Remembered with Honour Certificate from the CWGC, the Poppy Cross I personally laid at David's Grave in Tyne Cot Cemetery, his Pension Records x 2, an aerial view of Tyne Cot Cemetery and Memorial and finally a photo of David, his parents, his older Brother and his 4 sisters.