War memorial project
Private William Monger
Family
William James Monger was born on 23 October 1897 at Heath End, Tadley.
His parents were Gilbert and Alice Mary Monger (née North).
He was the eldest son of twelve children, two of whom died: Agnes, Ellen ‘Nellie’ Beatrice, Louisa ‘Tiny’ Mary, William James, Elsie Florence, Edith Ethel, Alice Lilian, Frederick Cyril, Sidney Frank and Iris Matilda.
In the 1901 Tadley census William was 3 years old and the family lived at ‘Ivy Cottage’ in the lane known variously as Rampton’s, Back or Old Lane, off Bishopswood Lane.
In the 1911 Baughurst census William was aged 13 years and listed as a ‘Scholar’. The family continued to live at ‘Ivy Cottage’ for many years (‘Ivy Cottage’ is now known as ‘The Acorns’).
Service record
William enlisted in Basingstoke at the outbreak of war, and served with the 2nd Battalion Hampshire Regiment, 29th Division (Service number: 14263).
When war broke out in August 1914 the Hampshire Regiment was in Mhow, India. It returned to England, arriving at Plymouth in December 1914. It moved to Romsey and in February 1915 to Stratford-upon-it 88th Brigade and the 29th Division before moving to Warwick. It sailed from Avonmouth to Cape Helles, Gallipoli in March 1915. After nine months, in January 1916, it withdrew to Egypt from where it sailed to Marseilles in March and proceeded to the Western Front.
Died
On Wednesday 18 October 1916, during the Battle of the Somme, the 12th Division, together with the 29th Division, assaulted Grease Trench near Guedecourt. The attack commenced at 3.40 am in atrocious weather: pelting rain, trenches deep in mud and even the open ground so slippery and sticky that movement was terribly slow. William is recorded as dying of wounds on Thursday 19 October 1916, the day after the action. He was 18 years of age, four days short of his birthday.
Commemorated
William was buried at Longueval Road Cemetery, Longueval near Albert, France.
He is remembered on both Tadley and Baughurst war memorials.
Decorations
William was awarded three medals: Victory, British and 1914-15 Star.
William was also awarded the Military Medal which was Gazetted on 21 September 1916. The letter accompanying the medal states that it was awarded for Gallant Conduct on 2 July 1916 at the Battle of Albert (Ypres). The location of the cemetery and this date indicate that the action happened at the beginning of the Battle of the Somme, east of the town of Albert and between the villages of La Boisselle and Fricourt.
William’s medals would have been sent to his family.
The Military Medal was awarded to NCOs and men of the Army (including RFC and RND) for individual or associated acts of bravery not of sufficient heroism as to merit the DCM. Some 115,600 medals were awarded during World War I, together with 5,796 first bars, 180 second bars and 1 third bar.
TADS World War I Memorial Exhibition is available for loan to interested bodies (eg, schools, Remembrance events etc). Copies of individual's sheets may be purchased from Profile Print & Copy (see for further details)
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Page updated: Saturday 7 February 2015; review date: 1 June 2015.