The AIF Project

Edwin Gerald MUNCE

Regimental number1594
Place of birthMackay, Queensland
SchoolCentral State School, Brisbane, Queensland
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationEngineer
AddressBaroona Road, Rosalie, Queensland
Marital statusSingle
Age at embarkation22
Next of kinMother, Mrs Marion Munce, Baroona Road, Rosalie, Queensland
Previous military serviceServed as Sgt Major in State School Cadets.
Enlistment date31 December 1914
Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll29 December 1914
Rank on enlistmentPrivate
Unit name9th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement
Embarkation detailsUnit embarked from Brisbane, Queensland, on board HMAT A49 Seang Choon on 13 February 1915
Rank from Nominal RollSergeant
Unit from Nominal Roll9th Battalion
Recommendations (Medals and Awards)

Military Medal


Recommendation date: 21 April 1916

FateKilled in Action 23 July 1916
Place of death or woundingPozieres, Somme Sector, France
Age at death24
Age at death from cemetery records24
Place of burialNo known grave
Commemoration detailsAustralian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France

Villers-Bretonneux is a village about 15 km east of Amiens. The Memorial stands on the high ground ('Hill 104') behind the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, which is about 2 km north of Villers-Bretonneux on the east side of the road to Fouilloy.

The Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux is approached through the Military Cemetery, at the end of which is an open grass lawn which leads into a three-sided court. The two pavilions on the left and right are linked by the north and south walls to the back (east) wall, from which rises the focal point of the Memorial, a 105 foot tall tower, of fine ashlar. A staircase leads to an observation platform, 64 feet above the ground, from which further staircases lead to an observation room. This room contains a circular stone tablet with bronze pointers indicating the Somme villages whose names have become synonymous with battles of the Great War; other battle fields in France and Belgium in which Australians fought; and far beyond, Gallipoli and Canberra.

On the three walls, which are faced with Portland stone, are the names of 10,885 Australians who were killed in France and who have no known grave. The 'blocking course' above them bears the names of the Australian Battle Honours.

After the war an appeal in Australia raised £22,700, of which £12,500 came from Victorian school children, with the request that the majority of the funds be used to build a new school in Villers-Bretonneux. The boys' school opened in May 1927, and contains an inscription stating that the school was the gift of Victorian schoolchildren, twelve hundred of whose fathers are buried in the Villers-Bretonneux cemetery, with the names of many more recorded on the Memorial. Villers-Bretonneux is now twinned with Robinvale, Victoria, which has in its main square a memorial to the links between the two towns.

Panel number, Roll of Honour,
  Australian War Memorial
57
Miscellaneous information from
  cemetery records
Parents: Clement Patrick Sizar and Marion MUNCE, Railway Department, Brisbane. Native of Mackay, Queensland
Medals

Military Medal

'At Rouge de Bout on 20th April 1916, during the shelling of 9th Battn. billets. Although badly wounded he remained at his post and rendered valuable help in tending and evacuating the wounded.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 176
Date: 30 November 1916

Family/military connectionsBrother: 34633 Company Quarter Master Sergeant Owen McKenny MUNCE, 12 Battery, 4th Field Artillery Brigade.
Other details

War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front

Medals: Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

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