Lieutenant William McLain Munro was a 20 year student serving in the 48th Highlanders when he attested into the 92nd Battalion in Toronto in February 1916. In the UK he was surplus to the 92nd Battalion and sent initially to the 166th Battalion, the 12th and 5th Reserve Battalions before arriving at the 15th Battalion in February 1917 and was serving as a platoon Commander in No. 2 Company at Vimy.
The end of April 1915 found the 15th Battalion further east of the ground they had captured on April 9th in front of Arleux Wood overlooking the town of Willerval. No. 2 Company was forward and had conducted day light recce patrols of the German wire and was being relieved by No. 4 Company when German heavy artillery began to drop ranging rounds on their position. This was followed by an intense bombardment which lasted until midnight and the companies suffered a combined total of 29 casualties – 9 of which were fatal. All nine men including Lt Munro were killed in action during the heavy artillery bombardment at Arleux Wood on May 1, 1917. This was to be the battalion’s last day in the Vimy area.
Lieutenant Munro’s name was added to the “Vimy Cross” even though he was not killed in the attack on Vimy Ridge. He is not the only one added after 9 Apr as they were regarded as Vimy casualties because the Vimy offensive went timewise beyond 9 Apr into early May.
Touching headstones means they came out of the same grave – ie: more than one man buried in the original grave.
NOK: Son of Hugh and Ellen E. Munro of 6, Hillcrest Drive, Toronto, Ontario. // Hugh Munro (F) 69 South Drive, Toronto, ON
