From Unknown to Remembered – CQMS Monro & Cpl Flynn

As Remembrance days approach, we wanted to focus the blog this month on a couple of Argylls of who recently discovered and laid to rest.

Earlier this year, military representatives and other organisations, such as the Commonwealth War Graves, gathered to honour two World War One soldiers from The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders at special commemoration ceremonies in France.

The groups paid tribute to Company Quarter Master Serjeant Charles Monro and Corporal Francis Flynn at Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries. 

The human remains of both soldiers were discovered during de-mining work near sites where they had died. Both received separate ceremonies in July this year.

To honour these men, we take a closer look into their stories through our archives and research.

Company Quarter Master Serjeant Charles Monro

Charles Monro was born in County Wicklow in 1875 and joined The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in 1894. He had a decorated and successful army career, and he was awarded the Indian General Service medal 1897-1898, which he got as a Private. Monro would also be awarded the 1914 Star, British War Medal and Allied Victory Medal posthumously.  

In pre-war service Monro was granted good conduct pay in May 1897. He was a provisional Lance Corporal in May 1897, and only a month later won a musketry prize. He gained a 2^nd Class Certificate of Education in October 1898 and a 1st class certification of Education on 24^th January 1906. He had completed 12 years of service in 1901. Monro transferred from A to B Company to be a Lance Sergeant on the 11^th June 1908.

At the outbreak of the Great War, Charles Monro found himself in the 2^nd Battalion, and this Battalion arrived in France on 10^th August 1914. Once arriving in France the 2^nd Battalion had been fighting alongside 1^st Middlesex Infantry,  2^nd Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 1^st Cameronians and were known as the 19^th Infantry.

Company Quarter Master Serjeant Charles Monro died on the 21st October 1914, at Battle of Armentières, which was part of the larger First Battle of Ypres.

Notes from a personal Battalion diary on the day that CQMS Monro died, written by Lieutenant Colonel H.G.Hyslop mentions:

“From the situation in my ditch, most of the “overs” fell around us, and during the whole day we had the most uncomfortable time, and though only one shell actually fell in the ditch, many hundreds must’ve fallen within 30 or 40 yards.

German shelling started at 8am, which did damage to the first line of transport, whilst many were digging. The village quickly became impossible to move with the amount of German artillery.

French received orders to retreat at 1pm, which allowed Germans to advance.”

This battle hit the 2^nd Battalion hard. 3 Officers were Killed in Action and 2 were wounded or missing, while over 200 N.C.Os and men were casualties – CQMS Monro was one of these individuals. The 2^nd Battalion were so badly weakened by this, it was now only one company strong.

Charles Monro’s remains were found during remining at Aubers Ridge. He received a burial with full military honours at Aubers Ridge British Cemetery.

Corporal Francis Flynn

Corporal Francis Flynn enlisted into the regiment at the outbreak of the war and spent from December 1914 until April 9^th 1917, the day he died, in France – he was 21 years of age. Corporal Flynn was Killed in Action in a general attack at Vimy Ridge and was in the 1/7 Battalion.

His grandmother, who lived in Falkirk, received the notice of his death. Flynn had been working as a bath moulder in Lauriston Iron Works before enlisting.

Lieutenant Hunter of the regiment, who had passed on the news of Corporal Flynn’s death, stated that “Corpl. Flynn’s death leaves a blank that cannot be filled, as of all the men, he was the most popular with his officers and comrades… It is the deeds and examples of such men as he that a battalion makes its name.”

Corporal Flynn has now been reburied Roclincourt Valley Cemetery, France.

Whilst researching Corporal Flynn, we came across his brother, Private John Flynn, who also served in the Argylls. Newspapers from 1917 note he died of wounds received in action eighteen months before Francis – we believe this to be incorrect.

Private John Flynn joined The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders on 23^rd March 1915, and basic training would have lasted about 3 months after this. We found sources that state he was hospitalised on 7^th April the same year at Falkirk Infirmary. He unfortunately died, aged 26, on 19^th July 1915 and it is believed it was either of meningitis or tuberculosis . Private Flynn was buried in Camelon Cemetery.

Ne Obliviscaris, Sans Peur

Written by Caitlin Meldrum, Audience and Communications Officer