1390 Henry Monk, 2nd Bn, Royal Sussex Regt

1390 Henry Monk of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, died of wounds on the 20th January 1915 after a little over two weeks in France. He'd arrived there on the 4th January 1915.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission notes Henry's number as 9/1390, Soldiers Died in The Great War gives G/1390, whilst his medal index card is unclear and could be 3/1390 or G/1390. Henry was 18 years old when he died and so we can pretty much rule out the 3/ prefix as he would have been too young when this number was issued to a man joining the Special Reserve. The 9th (Service) Battalion did not go overseas until April 1915 although of course, men had been joining the newly forming battalions since war was declared, and G/1390 would have been issued to a man joining up in early September 1914. Nevertheless it seems remarkable that a man who had joined as new and inexperienced recruit in September 1914, would find himself side by side with the regulars just five months later. That, however, would appear to be what happened in Henry's case.

Soldiers Died notes that Henry was born in Beckley and enlisted at Hastings. CWGC adds that he was the son of Mrs. Annie Carman of Winchelsea Road, Rye, Sussex and that he was a native of Horn's Cross, Northiam, Sussex. He is buried in Beuvry Communal Cemetery in France.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in The Great War