Surname:	Munro
Forename(s):	William
Rank:	Sergeant
Service number:	S/43193
Regiment:	4th then 7th Cameron Highlanders
Date of death:	7 May 1917 Aged 28
Place of death:	Etaples Military Hospital
Buried Commemorated	Etaples Military Cemetery – XIX.Q.1A Kingussie War Memorial and Kingussie and Insh Memorial in Kingussie Parish Church.

Background

William was born at Gordonhall, Kingussie on 14 June 1885 to Kenneth Munro, Gamekeeper and Margaret McPherson, Domestic Servant of Dunbarry Cottages, Kingussie. His mother later lived at Brae Ruthven, High Street, Kingussie and then Waterloo House, Kingussie.

In the 1891 Census William is living with his maternal grandmother at Gordonhall, Kingussie and he is still living with her in the 1901 Census and now at No1 Knappach House, Kingussie when he is described as being a farm servant.

In the 1911 Census William is living with his mother and maternal grandmother in Spey Street, Kingussie and William is described as a Shepherd and Ghillie. William had an older sister Margaret who died at Laggan in 1941.

War Record

Originally he is believed to have been in the 4th Camerons and died in the 7th Camerons. William Died of Wounds on 7 May 1917 possibly from engagement at Arras and he is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery. CWGC have him as aged 28 however he would have been 32 years as born in 1885.

The Etaples Military Cemetery stands on the former site of a vast military hospital complex used by the Allies during the First World War. At its height, in 1917, over 100,000 troops would have been camped here, either in training from the front or receiving treatment for wounds sustained. The hospitals themselves could cater for over 20,000 casualties at any one time. The site was chosen due to it’s distance from the front lines but there were good transport links, meaning troops could be brought here quickly without being in danger of enemy attacks.