ANZAC diaries: the Munro family, from Burpengary
Published 25 April 2021
This is the story of the Munro family from Burpengary who served honourably for the ANZACs. The patriarch of the family, Charles Munro, arrived in Australia from Scotland with his wife Jane, four siblings and daughter-in-law in 1914.
They owned a family farm at Burpengary and loved the Australian way of life, often travelling around Caboolture and Narangba performing the bagpipes to state schools around the region.
Charles enlisted at the age of 50 and served for over a year on the seas and land in and around Rabaul, New Guinea. Four of his sons soon followed and naturally all enlisted but only three were to serve overseas; James, Christian and Edward. The fourth son, William, stayed in Australia and served as a Lieutenant training recruits at Enoggera.
James Donald Sutherland Munro was present at the landing of Gallipoli but became ill and was invalided back to England with typhoid, joining the Royal Flying Corps as a Second Lieutenant. James passed away aged 25 after a serious aircraft crash in 1917.
Christian Munro joined the 41st Battalion 17 Reinforcements in August 1916 at the age of 18. Even after suffering a near-fatal wound in the neck and left ear, he returned to active duty as a stretcher-bearer before suffering fatal injuries in April 1918.
Edward Charles Munro enlisted in 1915 and served with the 5th Field Ambulance, Army Medical Corps, Special Reinforces as part of a stretcher squad carrying wounded north of Noreuil, France. He was awarded the Military Medal for carrying wounded continuously across a one and three-quarter mile stretch for 36 hours despite heavy artillery barrages.
Upon hearing the news of both James and Christian’s deaths, distraught mother Jane pleaded that her son Edward be returned home. Her wish was granted and Edward was returned to Australia to be discharged on the 23rd September 1918.
Edward settled down in public service, married Eileen Beatrice Mary Hill in 1925 and they lived at Geebung until 1954. He died in 1995 and is buried in Lutwyche Cemetery.
Edward and Eileen’s son, Donald Munro, collated Edward’s journey as a Stretcher Bearer through various diary entries and released this precious piece of Australian history named Diaries of a Stretcher Bearer 1916-1918. You can borrow or reserve the book at our libraries.
The Munro family has been honoured with the Charles Munro Reserve named after their patriarch in recognition of his achievements and popularity within the local community.
On Anzac Day we come together, in person and in spirit, to commemorate the men and women who have served our nation in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. Lest we forget.