Ernest Herbert Mundy

This story and photos are shared by the Trust with kind permission from Dave Shackson. Additional information from Mavis William, Researcher.

Remembering Ernest Herbert Mundy, died of wounds, 13 June 1944.

This is not for a relative but just a grave I found in a churchyard near where I work. Ernest Herbert Mundy was wounded and died in England on 13th June.

I am attaching a photo of his grave in St Mary's Walthamstow and a picture I found of him.

I managed to find out he was with the 7th Bn and was wounded in the fighting in Benouville.

Although he was not killed in action fighting in Normandy he ultimately died just over a week later from wounds he sustained there. He was amongst those who parachuted in with the rest of 6 Airborne in the early hours of D-Day

I have no idea if he has any family who remember him. His grave does not seem to get visits except from me as I clear it each time on 6 June.

Mavis Williams discovered the following information about him. Ernest Herbert Mundy was born on the 21st of June 1919, the son of Ernest Edward & Henrietta Louisa Mundy (née Fox) and was baptised on the 3rd of August 1919 in St. Mary’s Church, Newington. Ernest Edward Mundy was a Soldier and they lived at 23, Ravensdon Street. Ernest and Henrietta had married in the Lambeth Registeration District in the June quarter of 1918.

We see the family next on the 1921 census, which was taken on the 19th of June 1921, and they are living at 24, Cornwallis Road, Walthamstow, Greater London. Ernest Edward Mundy was now aged 30 years and 10 months old, he was a Soldier (Corporal) in ‘First Life Guards’ at Regents Park Barracks, Albany Street, N.W.1. Henrietta Louisa Mundy was 24 years, and 2 months old, born in Camberwell and doing ‘Home Duties.’ Ernest Herbert Mundy was 1 year, and 11 months old, born in Kennington, London. Henrietta Ethel Mundy was 5 months old and born in Windsor, Surrey.

The 1939 National Register, which was taken on the 19th of September 1939  shows the family living at 23 Elphinstone Road, Walthamstow. Ernest Edward Mundy was a Railway Gateman, Henrietta L. Mundy was doing Unpaid Domestic Duties and Henrietta E. Mundy was single and working as an Electrical Carts Braid and Cables Hand. They had had three more children: Sydney J. Mundy, born on the 10th of February 1923 was working as a Railway Fitter’s Apprentice, Frederick J. Mundy, born on the 18th of August 1924, was working as a Drill Boy and Donald J. Mundy, born on the 29th of May 1934 was At School. Ernest Herbert was not on this register. Was he already in the forces as I cannot find him anywhere.

Ernest married Berth May Terrington in Horncastle in October 1941 and they had two children. She had been born in Horncastle, Lincolnshire and in 1939 she was working there as a Shop Assistant in a Newsagents.

I do not know when he was to enlist or was conscripted but he was to find himself fighting in the Battle of Normandy and laid down his life for our freedom. He was serving with the 7th Battalion, Parachute Regiment which took off from RAF Fairford in the evening of 5 June 1944 as part of Operation Tonga (6th Airborne Division's parachute and glider assault in the early hours of D-Day). The battalion landed by parachute on drop zone 'N' at Ranville at 01:00. Due to some troops landing away from their intended drop zone, the battalion went into action with some companies at half strength.

One aircraft load wasn't able to drop at all and arrived later that evening as part of Operation Mallard (bringing reinforcements for 6th Airborne Division on the evening of D-Day). The battalion's task was to relieve the men of 2nd (Airborne) Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry who had captured the bridges across the Caen Canal and River Orne at Bénouville and Ranville (Pegasus and Horsa Bridges) earlier on D-Day.

Details of when Ernest was wounded are not known but he was evacuated back to the UK where he died of his wounds in Horton Emergency Hospital, Epsom on the 13th June 1944. He was buried on the 19th June in St Mary's Walthamstow.

Bertha married again after the war to Ronald Morley in Horncastle in October 1946.

British Normandy Memorial - Additional Information

Ernest Mundy was added to the memorial as a new name as his inclusion on the memorial had been overlooked as he was buried in the UK. Some records suggested he hadn't been involved in the Battle of Normandy but new evidence showed he took part in the battle. He was added to the British Normandy Memorial in 2026