Major John Magrath MONK
Major John Magrath Monk (Worcestershire Regiment) attached to the Egyptian Army
(photo taken and submitted by Carl Milburn)
Major John Magrath Monk was commissioned into the army on the 19th July 1910 as a 2nd Lieutenant on the Officers Unattached List. He joined the Worcestershire Regiment on the 4th October 1910. On the 5th November 1914 he landed in France with the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment and on the 12th March 1915 he was wounded during the Battle of Neuve Chapelle. He remaind with the 1st Battalion and during the Battle of the Somme in July 1916 he was second-in-command of the 1st Battalion. He was awarded the Military Cross (London Gazette 14th January 1916) for his actions whilst with the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. In 1917 he was appointed to a Staff position at Brigade level and he was awarded a Bar to his Military Cross (London gazette 26th November 1917). He was attached to 197th Brigade with the rank of Brevet Major. He was promoted in the field to Major (London Gazette 1st January 1918). On the 12th March 1918 he was seconded to the Egyptian Army.
Although his gravestone shows him as having being awarded a D.S.O. there is no evidence of this - it is likely a mistake.
Interestingly his medal card shows the date of death as 21st October 1921. However the C.W.G.C. show his death as 24th October 1920. Also interestingly his death was not recorded in the official Regimental roll of honour for the First World War in the official Regimental History.
Major John Magrath Monk was born at Littlehampton, Sussex in 1888. His father was Hugh L. Monk who was born in India in 1845 and was a Civil Servant with the Indian Railway with the role of Chief Engineer. His mother was Frances M. Monk (nee Lefroy) was born in Guernsey in 1862.
Major John Magrath Monk's uncle was John Richard Magrath (born 1839) who was the Provost at Queens College, Oxford University.