Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Frederick Watts Monk, a hosiery framework knitter, born 24th April 1863 in Hathern, Leicestershire (son of John Watts, 1826-1893 and Mary Ann Monk, 1826-1905) and his wife Ellen Elizabeth Monk (nee Dexter, married in the October quarter of 1887 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district), a hosiery framework knitter, born in the October quarter of 1866 in Hathern. John, a schoolboy, was born in the January quarter of 1894 in Hathern and baptised on the 9th September 1894 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Hathern, his siblings were, Margaretta (Maggie), a schoolgirl, born in the October quarter of 1888 and baptised on the 13th January 1889 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Hathern and Clarissa, a schoolgirl, born in the October quarter of 1891 and baptised on the 8th November 1891 in SS. Peter & Paul Church, Hathern, both his siblings were born in Hathern, also residing with the family was his maternal grandmother Susannah Dexter, a housekeeper, born 1845 in Hathern, in March 1901 the family home was at Wide Street, Hathern. In April 1911 John was employed as an apprentice lace draughtsman and was residing in the family home at Derby Road, Hathern, together with his father a hosiery framework knitter, his mother and siblings, Margaretta, a hosiery factory worker and Clarissa, a hosiery factory worker. In the April quarter of 1914 in the Loughborough, Leicestershire district, John married Sarah Ann Margaret Spencer, Sarah was born on the 15th August 1892, they had two children, Nevil, born 7th August 1914 and Mardoe Ellen, born 3rd March 1916, both children were born in Loughborough, the family resided at 61, Cumberland Road, Loughborough. In the October quarter of 1920 in the Loughborough district, John’s widow married George W. Gilbert, George was born on the 28th April 1893, they resided at 22, Leopold Street, Loughborough, later moving to 78, William Street, Loughborough.
John attested into the Territorial Force to serve 4 years’ service in the United Kingdom or Abroad on the 6th January 1915 in Loughborough and was allotted the service number 3600. He gave his place of residence as Gladstone Street, Hathern. His medical examination recorded that he was 5 foot 8 inches in height and he had a chest measurement of between 30½ and 33½ inches. His vision and physical development were described as good. He was pronounced fit for the Territorial Force on the 6th January 1914 in Loughborough.
During his period of military service, the following events of note occurred: -
Joined. Depot Leicestershire Regt. 6/1/15.
Transferred. 2/5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 6/1/15.
Transferred. To 1/5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte. 16/8/15.
Reported missing in action. In the Field. 13/10/15.
Body discovered and reported by the Officer Commanding the 6th Battalion Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment on the 9/12/15.
Total Service. 281 days.
John was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
John’s surviving service documents are in a very poor condition, and much of the finer detail relating to the period of time that he spent in the Army, is either illegible or missing, hence the sparse overall description of his military and personal family history.
On the 12th June 1916 John’s widow was awarded a weekly Army Pension for herself and two children of eighteen shillings and six pence, to commence on the 8th June 1916.
The War Diary records: 13 Oct-15 - At 6.00 am Battalion in place in RESERVE trench. At 12.00 noon bombardment of enemy trench FOSSE 8 commenced. At 1.00 pm smoke and gas turned on until 1.50 pm. At 2.00 pm assault. 5th Battalion LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT and 4th Battalion LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT advanced in lines of platoon at 50 paces distance against HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT. 4th Battalion LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT attacked from 2nd line followed by the MONMOUTHSHIRE REGIMENT. REDOUBT captured but lines checked and stopped by Machine Gun fire from MAD POINT, MADAGASCAR, and SOUTH FACE, also heavy rifle fire FOSSE and DUMP TRENCH. First two lines as almost all Company officers became casualties. REDOUBT and half of NORTH FACE was held – LITTLE WILLIE and BIG WILLIE still in enemy hands. At 3.00 pm “B” Company sent up to reinforce centre and left of REDOUBT followed by “A” and part of “D” Companies. Machine Guns in position along original front line now held by “C” Company and parts of other regiments. Considerable progress made along LITTLE WILLIE by grenade party under Lieutenant C. H. F. WOLLASTON. Ground lost again owing to lack of grenades. At 5.30 pm ground now held consisted of front face of REDOUBT and up to LITTLE WILLIE and point 60. Remainder of REDOUBT untenable by either side. 138th Brigade relieved gradually by 139th Brigade. 138th Brigade hold original front line trench. Many of “A” and “B” Companies still remained in the REDOUBT during the whole of next day.
An account of the events of the 12th and 13th October 1915.
On the 12th October 1915 the Battalion marched the ten miles from the village of Hesdigneul to the Redoubt in “fighting order”, with great coats rolled and strapped to their backs. They arrived at 10.00 pm at Vermelles, and the following eight hours were spent packed solid in communication trenches. Each soldier carried six sandbags and every third a shovel. As you could imagine, none of them slept and the lucky ones had a drink before our artillery opened up at noon on the 13th October. The enemy artillery responded fifteen minutes later, and at 1.00 pm we released chlorine gas, and disastrously for us an enemy shell shattered some containers in our frontline. At 2.00 pm our troops, many wearing gas helmets went “over the top” and bayonet charged the enemy positions. Terrific machine gun fire tore into them and a shrapnel barrage added to the heavy casualties. Hours passed and furious hand to hand fighting took place and repeated bayonet charges drove the enemy back, who in turn counter attacked. After darkness fell Lance Corporal Clayson of the 1/5th Battalion saved many lives by dragging wounded back to our trenches, and Captain Barton spent hours in No Man’s land giving morphine and water to the dying. When food and drink was brought up during the night the men had their first meal for twenty-four hours, but still no sleep. The morning of the fourteenth was very misty and this became smog as the Germans continued to use shrapnel and gas shells throughout the day. It was at 8.00 am on the fifteenth that the relief was completed and buses took most of our troops back to Hesdigneul. The 1/5th Battalion lost four officers, six wounded, two gassed and thirty-five men killed, one hundred and thirty-two wounded and twenty-two gassed.
On Thursday, October 28th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Pte. JOHN MONK, of the Leicester’s, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Monk, of the Royal Oak, Long Whatton, is reported to be missing after the charge of the 13th inst. He enlisted about twelve months ago. He was formerly employed in a lace factory at Long Eaton as a draughtsman.
On Wednesday, November 10th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – News has reached Mr. and Mrs. Monk of the Royal Oak, Long Whatton, that their only son, Private JOHN MONK, of the Leicester Territorials, is in hospital in France. Private Monk had been previously reported missing.
On Thursday, December 23rd, 1915, The Leicester Daily Mercury published the following article on page six, under the heading. – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – Pte. JOHN MONK, 5th Leicester’s, who was reported missing since 13th October, is now notified as among the killed. He was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Monk, of the Royal Oak, Long Whatton, and was formerly employed by Mr. Granger, lace manufacturer, Long Eaton, as a draughtsman. He joined the colours soon after war broke out.
On Friday December 31st 1915, The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “DISTRICT WAR ITEMS.” – LONG WHATTON MAN KILLED. Official news has been received that Pte. John Monk, Leicestershire Regiment, only son of Mr. Fred Monk, Royal Oak Inn, Long Whatton, was killed in action on October 13th 1915.
[recognitum XXVII-XI-MMXXII]