| William Munro was eldest and only surviving son of Alexander and Margaret Munro.
Alexander Munro married Margaret McPherson around 1880, probably in Scotland were both were born.
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| William Henry Munro was born on 1st October 1883 in Magherafelt.
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| Family: Alexander Munro, Margaret Munro, Kate Munro (born 5th November 1881), William Henry Munro (born 1st October 1883), Annabella ‘Bella’ Munro (born 1st May 1887), Andrew Munro (born 28th March 1889, died 8th July 1890).
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| William was educated in Magherafelt.
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| The 1901 census does not list William as living with the family at house 3 in Rainey Street, Magherafelt, County Londonderry. Alexander Munro was a tailor.
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| After completing his education he went to work in Glasgow. While there he joined the Glasgow Volunteers and became sergeant.
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| William then went on to work in Penang, in what is now Malaysia, where he remained for a number of years.
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| William subsequently went to live and work to Australia. It is believed to have arrived in Australia around 1908.
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| The 1911 census does not list William as living with the family at house 29 in Rainey Street, Magherafelt, Londonderry
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| Prior to enlisting, he was living at 580 Argent Street, Broken Hill, New South Wales. He was employed as a stockman. He had previously served in the ‘Geasgon Volunteers’. No record of the ‘Geasgon Volunteers can be found.
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| William Munro enlisted on 28th August 1914 in Broken Hill. He signed up at Morphettville Camp to H Company, 10th Infantry Battalion.
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| On 1st September he was promoted to Corporal.
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| On 20th October 1914, William Munro embarked from Port Adelaide on board HMAT Ascanius A11 as a Sergeant in H Company, 10th Infantry Battalion.
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| Sergeant William Munro embarked to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Forces on board Ionian for Gallipoli on 2nd March 1915.
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| Sergeant William Henry Munro was serving with the 10th Battalion of the Australian Infantry when he was killed in action at Dardanelles, Gallipoli Peninsula on 25th April 1915.
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| From the Belfast Newsletter dated 22nd June 1915:
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| Mr and Mrs Alex Munro, of Rainey Street, Magherafelt, have received intimation that their only son, Sergeant William H Munro, of the 10th Australian Infantry Regiment, has been killed in action at the Dardanelles.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 26th June 1915:
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| MUNRO – Killed in action at the Dardanelles on 24th April, Sergeant W A Munro, only son of Mr and Mrs Munro, Rainey Street, Magherafelt.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 26th June 1915: Sergeant W A Munro
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| The receipt of news of the death of Sergeant W A Munro at the Dardanelles shocked the entire community in the district. The deceased was the son of Mr and Mrs Alexander Munro, Rainey Street, and was a great favourite with everyone. After having completed his education in this town he went to Glasgow, having obtained an important position. While there he joined the volunteers and became sergeant. Afterwards he obtained a lucrative position in Penang (Malaysia), where he remained for a number of years, subsequently going to Australia. At the outbreak of war he volunteered for the front, joining the 10th Australian Infantry Regiment. The utmost sympathy is felt for his bereaved parents and sisters. The following letter has been received by the deceased’s sister from Captain Shaw, Officer Commanding C Company, 10th Inst., dated from Kabatepe, Turkey, 27/5/15.
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| ‘Dear Miss Munro, I should have written to you long ago, but all our Company’s Record Books were lost in the landing, so I did not know who to write to until your letter came. Sergeant Munro was killed in action on Tuesday afternoon, 24th April 1915. He died a most gallant death, and his loss is most keenly felt by both officers and men with whom he was very popular. Sergeant Munro was every inch a soldier, than there is no higher praise, and behalf of myself and all the members of C Company, I render you our sincerest sympathy in the great loss which you and we have sustained. P.S. I divided the good things you sent amongst the members of Sergeant Munro’s platoon.’
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| It appears that Captain Shaw has since been killed.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 15th January 1916:
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| Sergeant William Munro was originally buried in an Australian Cemetery at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli.
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| Sergeant Munro was later reburied in Beach Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey.
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| The CWGC record Sergeant William Henry Munro as the son of Alexander and Margaret Munro of Rainey Street, Magherafelt, Co. Derry, Ireland.
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