It was said that the father of well-known local Merimbula identity, Chappie Munn, was “busting his britches” to enlist but a punctured eardrum prevented him.

However it did not stop his brothers, Ronald Thompson, Eric Napier and Randolph Cameron from signing up.

Ronald who was known by his second name ‘Thompson’ lived with his family in Courunga, one of only two original buildings still remaining in Merimbula.

After moving to Sydney as the manager of the family maizena factory there, he served three years with the Scottish Rifles.

On May 1, 1915 he completed the enlistment process at Liverpool although in June that year a medical certificate showed him to be suffering from acute pneumonia.

Thompson embarked on the HMAT A54 Runic on August 9, 1915 for Egypt where he was with the Light Horse Brigade.

On October 18, 1915, Thompson embarked at Alexandria for the Gallipoli Peninsula on HMT Borda. He joined the 1st Battalion at Gallipoli on November 14.

Just 10 days later Thompson lost his life while his battalion was engaged in battle at Gallipoli. He was buried on November 25, 1915 at Shell Green Cemetery, close to Anzac Cove with Chaplain J M Duncan officiating.

On December 15, 1915, Mr and Mrs Munn were advised that their son Thompson had made the supreme sacrifice.

On Friday, November 16, 1917, the Pambula Voice carried the following:

In memoriam

In fond memory of our beloved son and brother, Ronald Thompson Munn, killed in action at Gallipoli, November 24, 1915.

Oh, what could heal the grief we feel,

For hopes that come no more,

Had we ne’er heard the Scripture word,

Not lost, but gone before.

Inserted by his loving mother, J P Munn.

Last year, almost 100 years after the Munn’s loss, Terry and Kerri Freeman, of Mirador had cause to stop and reflect on Private Ronald Thompson Munn when they visited Gallipoli.

Mr and Mrs Freeman visited a number of the 31 Allied cemeteries. Mr Freeman said: “The experience for both of us was one of mixed emotions - deeply sobering that so many, mostly young, lives were lost; and pride at the courage and tenacity of Australian soldiers fighting, in extreme conditions, a resilient and determined foe.”

The last cemetery they visited was Shell Green. Mr Freeman said: “It was here whilst walking among the headstones that we came across the resting place of Pvte R T Munn of Merimbula. Seeing his headstone reinforced the feelings of loss and pride. One of Merimbula’s own who served but never returned home.” 

Two other sons of the Munn’s also served. Gunner Randolph Cameron Munn enlisted on February 22, 1916 and returned to Australia on June 20, 1919 and Trooper Eric Napier Munn enlisted on February 22, 1917, returning to Australia on July 26, 1919.

Ethel Munn, widow of Chappie Munn, said that her uncle, Elijah Horne, of Quaama served in France in the First World War but spent time in an English hospital after being hit by shrapnel.

Mrs Munn, who called her uncle ‘Nugget’, said he’d told her: “I never knew my leg could hit the back of my head. That was how it felt when the shrapnel hit me.”