MONK Robert Joseph

Corporal Robert Joseph Monk Army Service Corps

1914-15 Star. 1914-18 British War Medal. Victory Medal. Defence Medal.

The Man Robert Joseph Monk was born on Friday 24th March 1893 in Stamford, Worcestershire, son of Robert senior, a Blacksmith and Charlotte nee Wall and was one of four children, Mary Elizabeth born in 1897, William Edward 1898 and Sarah Edith 1903.

The 1901 census shows the family living at Lower Forge, Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire and in 1911 at 8 Russell Street, Royal Leamington Spa, where Robert junior now aged 18 was working as a Motor Mechanic for the Midland Autocar Company (The Midland Autocar Company, also known as Midland Autocar Co (Leamington) Limited, was a company based in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, that was involved in the automobile industry. Specifically, they were known as automobile engineers and vehicle manufacturers. The company was registered at 14/16 Russell Street, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 5QB. It was dissolved on November 29th 2016. They were also associated with the Midland Red bus company, with some of their buses being purchased by the Leamington and Warwick Tramway Company.)

At the outbreak of World War I on 4th August 1914, Robert and family were still living at 8 Russell Street and on 8th January 1915, aged 21 in Birmingham, he enlisted into the Army Service Corps, Motor Transport Depot as a Private with service number M2-033129. He was described as 5’.3” tall, weighing 146lbs with a 38” chest and a good physical development.

Robert's Knight's of St Columbus Medallion

On 27th March 1915 Robert embarked at Avonmouth sailing to Egypt, landing at Alexandria on 14th April. Six months later on 15th October he embarked in the Troopship ‘Knight Templar’ at Alexandria sailing to Salonica, landing on 22nd as part of the 10th Divisional Supply Column Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (MEF). He contracted Malaria in April 1916 resulting in hospitalisation at the 28 General Hospital, Salonica. Following discharge from hospital he remained with the MEF, returning to the UK via Taranto in Italy on 19th February 1918, with instructions on his record that he was only to be sent to France or Italy in the event of re-posting due to his malaria. He was hospitalised twice more whilst back in the UK and promoted to Acting paid Corporal on 11th October 1918.

Robert was discharged from the army on 15th March 1919 as a Corporal and claiming a 20% disability pension. He was awarded his 1914-15 Star, 1914-18 British War Medal and Victory Medal. He returned to the motor trade and in 1921 was working at Restello Garage, 241 Lower Clapton Road, living as a boarder at 50 Powell Road, Clapton, London.

During the third quarter of 1921 aged 27 he married Elsie May Hammond in Edmonton and they had four children, Robert Barnabas born in 1924, Mary Elizabeth 1922, Barbara Elsie 1927 and Peter Edmund 1930.

It is assumed Robert was a Roman Catholic as in 1934 he was awarded a Knight’s of St Columbus Medallion G K Co 153. The 1939 Register shows the family living at 56 Perth Road, Wood Green but at some time following this they moved to 2 Upper Hill Street, Leamington Spa, possibly to avoid air raids or to return to the Midland Autocar Company.

During World War II, Robert served in one of the Civil Defence Organisations being awarded his Defence Medal at the end of the war. However, his son Robert Barnabas was killed in action on 8th June 1942 whilst serving in the Merchant Navy in the Motor Vessel ‘King Lud’ which was torpedoed in the Mozambique Channel by Japanese Submarine l-10. He was aged just 17.

In later life Robert lived at 10 Caroline Avenue, Christchurch and died on Christmas Day 1967 aged 74 at Christchurch Hospital