Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Charles Gilbert Munford, or ‘Tony’, came from humble beginnings in Sydney, becoming a well-liked and respected figure both at home and abroad. He was the only son of Charles Frederick Munford and Alice Edith Gilbert, having only one sibling, his sister Alice Maud Munford. He grew up in Leichhardt and attended Sydney Technical High School in 1910, where his passion for baseball was born. Charles worked as a clerk before enlisting for the war effort in late 1916. He and his family were members of the Church of England, being members of the Protestant Alliance Friendly Society of Australasia

Charles was named after his mother and father, taking his first name from his father and his middle name from his mother's surname. His father, Charles Federick Munford, was a grocer, wine merchant and a pigeon racer who had a shop on 357 Parramatta Rd, Leichhardt, where his family lived. They had a second address at 251 Parramatta Rd. Parramatta Road was and is today a busy “colonial road” that links Sydney CBD to Parramatta. Charles attended Cleveland Street Superior School before getting a junior scholarship to Sydney Technical High School in 1910, in Ultimo, excelling in algebra and practical chemistry. It was at Sydney Tech that Charles would grow a liking and passion for baseball, which he would later pursue, graduating through Leichhardt Brotherhood Juniors to Blue Sox High Grade. He was described as ‘One of the speediest runners ever seen on the square’. It is with baseball and pressure from his friend Harold Kendrew, a metal worker from Leichardt, that Charles would be pressured to join the ‘bigger game’. Charles enlistiedon the 12th of October the same year at age 21. 

Charles Gilbert Munford was appointed to the 1st Corps Cyclist Battalion alongside his friend from home, Harold Kendrew, with their private numbers being only 2 apart, being 797 and 795, suggesting they enlisted together. Both soldiers embarked on the ‘ORSOVA’  which embarked from Sydney on the 2nd of December 1916 before disembarking at Plymouth on the 17th of February 1917. Charles was subject to constant change overseas, moving from the military camp Perham Downs in England to Larkhill, a training camp and then to Durrington between February and April. On the 14th of May 1917, Charles proceeded overseas to France via Folkestone and was assigned to reinforce the 4th battalion. He arrived at Etaples a a major base depot, and was transferred to the 4th battalion from the 1st Corps Cyclist Battalion.

His battalion was heavily involved in campaigns around Ypres and northern France, fighting in the Battle of Messines and the third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). Between October and December 1917, Charles was sent to the Brigade school of instruction, a field training school, twice, suggesting he was a highly capable soldier. He returned to the Western Front in the quiet period before the German spring offensive, before going on leave to the United Kingdom between the 1st of February and the 19th of February 1918. In April, based on testimonies of Charles’ last whereabouts, it is revealed that his unit was involved in raids in Merris and Strazeele, meaning his unit was fighting in the Battle of Lys or the 4th Battle of Ypres. It is in this battle that Charles was believed to have been killed in a daylight raid near Meteren by a machine gun bullet. He was buried in a field with others and had a service done by a church of England padre, a small wooden cross, and a name was put on the grave.

After the war, Munford was remembered as being noble and taking the path of sacrifice; his presence lingered around his family after the war. The same year he died, Charles’ mother died aged 53; however, 4 years after Charles' death, his sister Alice Maud Munford married Edwin James Tamplin, a soldier from the 3rd Australian infantry battalion who returned home. It was Edwin who signed on Charles’ father's behalf to claim Charles Gilbert Munford’s memorial plaque, repaying the positive social behaviour Charles demonstrated. Ultimately, Charles’ legacy lived on after his death through his family tradition as his sister's son was named after him: Charles Edwin Tamplin, hence honouring Charles' enduring love, kindness and connection to family. In a comment from friends in a family notice newspaper, “he died as he lived-nobly”. Charles was awarded three medals: the Star Medal, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. The original house of Charles’ father's shop at 357 Parramatta Rd still stands today after being restored between December 2016 and 2018, and sits next to Leichhardt Library. Charles is remembered at the Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux in France and is recognised on the Sydney Technical High School WW1 roll of honour, which sits in Bexley, NSW. However, the name is incorrectly placed as “Mumford C” due to confusion with another Sydney Tech student with the surname ”Mumford”.