Son of Scottish novelist Neil, and Jessie E. Munro, of Cromalt, Helensburgh, Dumbartonshire. Native of Inveraray, Argyll.

He came to study at Glasgow University in 1909. During his time at the university he was awarded prizes in Physiology and Practical physiology, the Zoology Prize and the Junior Anatomy Prize. The outbreak of war interrupted his undergraduate degree in 1914 when he was called up for active service before he could sit his final exams.

He enlisted with the Argyllshire battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. All units were mobilised for full war time service on the 5th August 1914 and Munro’s Division were ordered to concentrate at Bedford. They landed in France in May 1915 where Munro was Captain of the 1st/8th battalion of Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. He was killed in action in France dying on the 22nd of September 1915 at the young age of 22.

NLS MS.26919: Notes by Neil Munro on the Scottish Regiments (f.2) and the first draft of his ‘On the road to Bapaume’ (f.14). MS.26930: Letters and copies of letters, 1914-1915, of and concerning Captain Hugh A Munro, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders to his family, written mostly from the Western Front.

From his diaries: “Sunday 16th May, Merris. Got one of the latest respirators today - black gauze with a pad soaked in the mixture. Supposed to be quite efficient. “Thursday 10th May. A distressing experience one’s first shelling. The long drawn out whistle leaves one horribly uncertain for some time where the shell is going to land. Better on the march when you have only the bursting shell, the whistle drowned by marching feet. Reassured by Ghurka officers who sat and smoked and read papers outside doors of their tottering offices and headquarters.” “Friday 21st May. Indians came trooping in across fields from fire trenches; great many wounded, some going back along, others on stretchers, past our trench.” “Friday 4th June. Place taken over from Canadians. Macintyre giving instructions in Gaelic to his platoon (Ballachulish) and getting answers in same tongue. The Artillery Observer was astonished, hadn’t heard Gaelic before.” 

George Blake, a family friend, dedicated his novel "The Path of Glory" to the memory of Hugh Adam Munro.

CWGC has him as Captain. 

Newspaper Clippings relating to Hugh Adam Munro

Hugh Munro

Hugh Munro 1