WW1 Kenneth Ivan Munce
Kenneth Ivan Munce
Kenneth Ivan Munce was born on 29 April 1884 to Ruth and John McKenny Munce of 162 Remuera Road, Remuera, Auckland.
Before his enlistment Kenneth Ivan Munce was a tinsmith, who makes or repairs things of sheet metal (such as tinplate) at Hellaby and Company, Auckland, with his address as the Victoria Café in Kyber (sic) Pass. He was 5ft 3 inches tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and a sallow complexion. (His next of kin was his mother Ruth Mrs R Beamish. His father had died in 1910.).
He enlisted as a Private, 18th Reinforcements, Auckland Infantry Battalion, A Company, New Zealand Expeditionary Force on 27 June 1916 and sailed on the vessel ‘Tofua’ on 11 Oct 1916 and arrived on 28 December 1916 in Plymouth, Devon, England. [1] Whilst in England he was ill with pneumonia in February 1917 and in March 1917 with bronchitis, recovering to leave for France on 21 June 1917 for Etaples on the Western Front.
At that time, the capture of Messines was achieved with relatively few casualties. The operation launched on 20 September 1917 to take Passchendaele succeeded admirably, as did the second bite on 26 September, causing much anxiety among the German defenders. Before the next bite was scheduled on 4 October 1917, Kenneth Ivan Munce was killed in action on 3 October 1917 at Ypres, near the Passchendaele Ridge. He is buried 2 ½ miles North East of Ypres at Pixel Haunter, Plot 2, Row C, Grave 3. [2, 3, 4]
Kenneth Munce St Aidans
Borough of Newmarket Roll Of Honour
He is also remembered on
• St Aidan’s Church war memorial cross, Remuera (see image)
• Newmarket War Memorial, Olympic Park, Newmarket, Auckland, New Zealand
• The Borough of Newmarket War Memorial, Auckland Council Archives (see image)
In Memoriam
MUNCE—In loving memory of my dear son, Kenneth Ivan Munce, killed in action in France, October 3, 1917. Oh for the touch of the vanished hand. And a word from the voice that is still. —Inserted by his loving mother, R. Beamish.
MUNCE— proud and fond memory of our dear pal, Kennie, killed in action October , 1917. He is gone but not forgotten; He was little but he was good. And his duty was nobly done. —Inserted by his sorrowing friends. Jack Elliott, AH. McCormick, and Frank Fox. http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19181003.2.2.2 IN MEMORIAM. New Zealand Herald, 3 October 1918 ON ACTIVE SERVICE. FOR KING AND COUNTRY.
MUNCE.—In loving memory of our dear son and brother. Private Kenneth Ivan Munce, 18th Reinforcement, killed In action in France, 1917: aged 33 years. He sleeps beside his comrades, In a shallow grave unknown: But his name is written In letters of love. In the hearts that he left at home. Inserted by his loving mother, brothers (Willie, Harry, Gordon), and sisters (Mary and Nita). http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19181003.2.59
ON ACTIVE SERVICE. FOR KING AND COUNTRY. Auckland Star, 3 October 1918 Private Kenneth Ivan Munce, Eighteenth Reinforcements, killed in action in France, October 5 1917; aged 53 years. Just another brave colonial, Died for England at her call: But the long way from his loved one, Is the longest road of all. Inserted by his loving brother, Gordon. http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19191003.2.2.1
ROLL OF HONOUR. New Zealand Herald, 3 October 1919 Private Kenneth Ivan Munce, Eighteenth -Reinforcements, killed in action in France, October 3, 1917; buried in New Irish Farm Cemetery, St. Jean, Ypres; aged 33 years. Ever remembered —Inserted by his loving mother, brothers and sisters. http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19201002.2.2.2 IN MEMORIAM, New Zealand Herald, 2 October 1920
ROLL OF HONOUR MUNCE. —In loving memory of our dear brother, Kenneth Ivan Munce, killed in action at Passchendaele, October 3, 1917. Ever remembered. Inserted by his loving brother and sister-in-law, Gordon and Eileen. http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19231003.2.2 ROLL OF HONOUR. Auckland Star, 3 October 1923
ROLL OF HONOUR. MUNCE.—In loving memory of Kenneth Ivan Munce killed at Passchendaele October 3, 1017. Still sadly missed, inserted by his loving mother, sisters and brothers. http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19271003.2.2 ROLL OF HONOUR. Auckland Star, 3 October 1927
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Email References:
1. Auckland War Memorial Museum Online Cenotaph.
3. Papers Past: New Zealand Herald, 20 October 1917.
4. New Zealand War Graves Project.
5. Borough of Newmarket, Newmarket War Memorial, Newmarket Auckland. Image provided by John Halpin 2014, CC BY John Halpin 2014.
