Capt. Patrick Munro, XXX of Foulis

Notes:

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The following was published in the Ross-shire Journal:

With the passing on February 24, 1995 of Captain Patrick Munro of Foulis, TD, DL, another link with Ross-shire and the Highland's historical past has been severed, and the North has lost one of nature's true gentlemen and one of the last of the old style Highland Chieftains and an epitome of all that is best in that title.

No absentee, no grandee he, but a man who throughout his lifetime genuinely cared deeply for the well being of the land and the people of the Highlands.

Born Patrick Gascoigne, on August 30, 1912, eldest son of Colonel Cecil Gascoigne (Seaforth highlanders), and Eva Marion ne Munro of Foulis, eldest daughter of Sir Hector Munro of Foulis, 11th Baronet. Pat spent much of his childhood in both Blairgowire in central Scotland and Leatherhead in southern England, where his father had various business interests, but came to Foulis regularly for holidays and on the death of his father in 1927, the whole family moved north taking a lease of Calrossie Mains from Captain McGillivray, where they lived happily for many years.

Educated at the Imperial Service College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, he was commissioned into the family regiment, the Seaforth Highlanders, but shortly after the death of his maternal grandfather in 1935 he left the army to take up the management of Foulis Estate.

As a condition of his grandfather's will he changed his name to Munro of Foulis and was officially recognized by the Court of Lord Lyon as traditional 33rd Laird of Foulis and Chief of the Clan Munro. This, together with the fact that the Munros have charters dating from 1299, rediscovered in the 1930's (one of which provided the first documentary evidence of the Brahan Seer's existence) showing them to have been well established at Foulis by the middle of the 1300's and historically linked with the place since 1039 meant an enormous amount to Pat and gave him a life long interest in history.

Prior to the outbreak of World War II, Pat rejoined the army to take command of "C" Company 4th Seaforths and with his old regiment formed part of the British Expeditionary Force sent to fight alongside the French as the Germans swept across Europe. With the rest of the 51st (Highland) Division he and his late brother Hector were captured at St. Valery by Rommel's forces and spent the next five years as POW's, forging friendships which were to last his lifetime, before being liberated early in 1945 by American Forces under General George Patton (who himself had Munro forebears) and repatriated later that year.

Pat returned to resume the running of Foulis and in January 1946 married Eleanor Mary (Timmy) daughter of Captain The Hon William and Mrs. French of County Roscommon, Eire, who had been serving in the WRNS at HMS Owl near Fearn in Easter Ross. Later that year they commenced farming initially as P. and E. M. Munro later to become Foulis Farms and made their family home at Ardullie Lodge where they brought up their four children.

Pat learned his farming under the tutelage of probably the best two Ross-shire farmers of their generation, Captain John McGillivray, Calrossie and Willie Gill, Rosskeen. Gradually, with his wife Timmy's unceasing support, his own attention to detail, exacting standards and firm hand on the tiller the estate which had been greatly run down was rationalized and built up into an efficient farming business, although much to his regret this meant selling a large proportion.

Pat's own son Hector took over the day to day farming activities in 1973.

Although, Pat, Captain Munro or just "the Captain" as he was affectionately known took a keen interest in everyone he met and in both national and local affairs (for a short time a county councillor and for many years Vice-Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty), public life did not really suit him.

He was essentially a very private man with a deep faith, regularly supporting the Scottish Episcopal Church in Dingwall, but for the hundreds of all walks of life who crossed his path be it in the street, on the farm, at his old home Ardullie Lodge or latterly Foulis Castle, and had the privilege of knowing him, there was the realization that this was someone with very special qualities, not least of which were his old world charm. his directness, his wisdom, and his great sense of humor.

Probably, Pat and Timmy's most lasting memorial will be the restoration of their historic home Foulis Castle, starting with the renewal of the roof in the 1950's when it was the first house in Ross-shire to receive assistance from the Historic Buildings Council for Scotland (now Historic Scotland). It was a sizeable project and half a lifetime's work, phase IV being completed only last summer [1994].

Not content with an easy retiral, on the death of his own mother in 1976 Pat and Timmy set about the main programme of restoration at Foulis, which was not only to save it but turn its impossibly inconvenient Victorian interior into the comfortable family home and garden it is today. To achieve this they sold their home of 30 years, Ardullie Lodge which for the previous 350 years had acted as the dower house to Foulis and moved into two cottages nearer the castle to oversee the work.

Pat took his position as Chief of the Clan and owner of Foulis seriously and often reiterated that "Foulis was the home of all Munros" a statement he backed up by showing a constant stream of several hundred visitors a year around the castle, many of whom over the years became great friends, returning again and again.

Always smartly dressed and fit, he bore his final illness with great strength and patience, although it clearly frustrated such an active man who had so much he wanted to do. One of the last of his generation, he summed it up only a few days before he died in a jocular conversation with his eldest son with a quotation he said his grandfather often used "Wha's like us, damn few and they're a' died".

He is survived by his wife Timmy, his four children, Charlotte, Hector, Harry, John and thirteen grandchildren. He will be sadly missed.
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«i»The current [1993] Chief of the clan is Capt. Patrick Munro who acquired the title from the will of his grandfather, Sir hector Munro, in 1938. He is the son of Patrick Gascoigne, husband of Sir Hector's eldest daughter and is, by tradition, 33rd Laird of Foulis. Patrick was born on 30 Aug 1912, served in the Seaforth Highlanders in WWII, was captured by the Germans in 1940. He is Deputy-Lieutenant for Ross and Cromarty. His son Hector William will no doubt succeed to the Baronetcy.«/i»

(The Monroe Book - by J. S. Guilford)
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Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Buried:
Patrick's burial memorial reads:

"In memory of their eldest son Captain Patrick Gascoigne Munro
Seaforth Highlanders, 30th Baron of Foulis
30th August 1912 - 24th February 1995"

Patrick married Eleanor Mary French in Jan 1946. Eleanor (daughter of Captain The Hon. William French) was born about 1914; died on 20 Oct 2018 in Foulis Castle, Ross-shire, Scotland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living
2. Living
3. Living
4. Living

Notes:

Served in the Seaforth Highlanders.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Cecil married Eva Marion Munro on 27 Oct 1904. Eva (daughter of Colonel Sir Hector Munro, XXIX of Foulis, 11th Baronet and Margaret Violet Stirling) was born on 28 Apr 1881 in Of, Foulis, Ross-Shire, Scotland; died on 24 Nov 1976 in Dingwall, Ross-Shire, Scotland, (Foulis Castle); was buried in Fletcham. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Eva's husband was D & O of Muirton, Blairqowrie, Co. Perth, Lt.-Col. (or Col.) Seaforth Highlanders, and the son of Col. Gascoigne, Gren. Guards.

Eva assumed by deed poll 1936 the name of Mrs. Munro of Foulis in lieu of Gasciogne under the will of her father who enlisted her as 32nd Lady of Foulis.

She lived at Ardullie Lodge, Dingwall, Ross-shire, Scotland.

Ref: Clan Munro files - Stroud, Anna Margaret
"Clan Munro Magazine" - No. 21 - 1996 - p. 4

Ref: "Clan Munro Annual" - 1939 - p. 17

Ref: "History of the Munros" by A. Mackenzie - p. 158

3. Eva Marion.

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

Sir Hector Munro, 11th Baronet, assumed the management of the Foulis estate in 1875, even though both his father and grandfather were still alive at the time.

He was an enthusiastic Freemason and served for several years as Master of the Fingal Lodge in Dingwall. In 1890, he was made Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Ross and Cromarty. For a time, he commanded the third Batallion Seaforth Highlanders.

He was very popular and highly esteemed as an unassuming county gentleman, taking a lively and sympathetic interest in his tenants, and an active part in all county business.

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«i»Sir Hector Munro inherited the castle from his father in 1886 at which time it was let. He and his family did not come to live at Foulis until 1893. Before coming to reside at the castle with his young family, Sir Hector and his wife, Violet, made considerable improvements.

The attic on the top floor was all lined with tongued and grooved boarding backed with felt to lag and make warmer the rooms which were used by the housemaids. «/i»

("The restoration of Foulis Castle" - by Eleanor "Timmi" Munro of Foulis - Clan Munro Australia Newsletter - Don Munro, Editor - Vol. 8 #1 - Apr 2011)
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Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Buried:
Sir Hector's burial monument reads:

"To the Memory of Colonel Sir Hector Munro
3rd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders
11th Baronet and 29th Baron of Foulis
Lord Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarth
A.D.C. to their majesties King Edward VII and King George V
Born September 13th 1848
Died December 15th 1935"

Hector married Margaret Violet Stirling on 7 Apr 1880. Margaret was born on 29 Feb 1856; died on 20 Feb 1946; was buried in The Grange, Edinburgh. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ref: "History of the Munros" by A. Mackenzie - p. 158

He married on the 7th of April, 1880, Margaret Violet, eldest daughter of John Stirling of Fairburn and 17 Ennismore Gardens, London, with issue--

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Notes:

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA

Charles married Mary Anne Nicolson on 19 Mar 1847. Mary was born est 1826; died on 3 Oct 1903. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ref: "History of the Munros" by A. Mackenzie - p. 157

On the 19th of March, 1847, he married Mary Anne, daughter of John Nicolson, Camberwell, Surrey, with issue--

Compiled and edited by Allen Alger, Genealogist, Clan Munro Association, USA