Lance Corporal Algernon Armitage 2nd Essex 1915

In loving memory of
FLORENCE J.A. ABBOTT
the belove wife of
ARTHUR ABBOTT
who died Jan. 5th 1916
Aged 29 years.
Thy will be done.
Also of
ALGERNON H.J.J. ARMITAGE
Lance Corporal 2nd Batt. Essex Regt.
brother of the above
who died of wounds at Boulogne France
June 26th 1915.
For God and Country.

ARMITAGE, ALGERNON HENRY JOHN JAMES
Rank:………………………………......Lance Corporal
Service No:…………………………7226
Date of Death:……………………26/06/1915
Age:…………………………………....30
Regiment:……………………………Essex Regiment, 2nd Bn.
Grave Reference:……………….VIII. B. 51.
Cemetery:…………………………..BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Armitage, of Bergholt Rd., Cattawade, Manningtree, Essex; husband of A. C. Baker (formerly Armitage) of Oakleigh the Croft, Bures, Suffolk.
CWGC: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/48492/ARMITAGE,%20ALG...

Soldiers Died in the Great War records that Lance Corporal 7226 Algernon Henry John James Armitage Died of Wounds on the 26th June 1915 whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment in France & Flanders. He was born Clapton, Middlesex, resident East Bergholt, Essex and enlisted Colchester.

The Medal Index Card for Private 7226 A H Armitage, Essex Regiment, is held at the National Archive under reference WO 372/1/112252
discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D1643774

His Regimental Service Medal Roll shows that he served with only the 2nd Battalion.
He was entitled to the British War Medal & the Victory Medal, as well as the 1914/15 Star.

His Service Records do not appear to have survived the incendiary attack during the Blitz on the Warehouse where all the Army service records were stored.

No obvious Soldiers Will or Civil Probate for this man.

Algernon is remembered on the War Memorial at East Bergholt.
www.roll-of-honour.com/Suffolk/EastBergholt.html

But he is not on the Brantham War Memorial.

1884 – Birth…………………………..

The General Registrars Office quarterly published index of births for England and Wales for July to September 1884 records the birth of an “Algerian” Henry J.J. Armitage, in the Edmonton District of Middlesex.

1891 Census of England and Wales

The 7 year old Algernon H.J.J. Armitage, born Clapton, London, was recorded living at 47 New Village, Brantham. This was the household of his parents, William J, (aged 29, a Machinist in Factory, born Islington, London) and Jane M. (aged 30?, born Kentish Town, London). As well as Algernon their other children living with them are:-
Florence J.A……aged 5……...born Dalston, London
William F(?)…..aged 2……...born Ipswich, Suffolk
Stanley A.W…aged 5 months..born Brantham Suffolk

1901 Census of England and Wales

The Armitage family were now recorded living at 7 Alice Villa, Brantham – but the census taker has spelt their surname “Armatage”. Father William, 38, born Islington, is now recorded as a Cutter of Xylonite. Mother Jane, 39, was born Kentish Town. Children still single and living at home are Algreion, (16, General Labourer, born Clapton, London), Florence, (15, born Clapton, London), Fredrick, (12, born Ipswich), Clarence, (6, born Manningtree, Essex) and Stanley, (1, born Manningtree, Essex).

The marriage of an Algernon Henry J J Armitage to an Alice Christina Abbott was recorded in the Samford District of Suffolk in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1908. Samford District included Brantham.

1911 Census of England and Wales

The 26 year old Algernon Armitage, a Worker in the Acid Department in the Manufacturer of Xylonite, born Clapton, Middlesex, was recorded as the married head of the household at 1 Holly Cottages, East Bergholt, Near Colchester. He lives there with his wife of 2 year, Alice, (aged 23, born Lauford, Essex) and their only child, John, (aged 1, born Brantham, Suffolk).

His parents William, (48, Worker in Xylonite, British Xylonite Company), and Jane, (50), have been married 27 years and have had 6 children, of which 4 were then still alive. Still single and living at home are Florence, (25), Fredrick, (22) and Clarence, (16) – all Workers in Xylonite. The family also have a live in Domestic Servant. They were all still living at Alice Villa, East Bergholt Road, Brantham, Manningtree.

Until September 1911 the quarterly index published by the General Registrars Office did not show information about the mothers maiden name. A check of the General Registrars Office Index of Birth for England and Wales 1911 – 1983 shows one likely additional child of Algernon and Alice. The birth of a Gwendoline A Armitage, mothers maiden name Abbott, was registered in the Samford District of Suffolk in the October to December quarter, (Q4), of 1912.

On the day……………………………

Without some personal source like his Service Records its guess work as to the circumstances that led to Algernons death.

Given that he was in what was comparatively well paid and secure work and married with children, it is very unlikely that Algernon became a Regular Army soldier prior to the outbreak of war. Even if he was a pre-war Territorial, he would have had to waive his rights to serve only in the UK and volunteered to be part of a draft of reinforcements for the 2nd Battalion - they had been out in France since the 28th August 1914.

There were certainly plenty of fighting involving the 2nd Essex in the weeks prior to Algernon’s death on the 26th June. On the 13th May they had taken part in a counterattack to restore a gap in the front line. Elsewhere to the north in 4th Division's lines there had been a few gaps created but these had been swiftly plugged. In the case of the 2nd Essex they were forced to advance over 500 metres across open ground losing 180 casualties.
www.webmatters.net/monuments/ww1_bowlby_skrine.htm

They were a subject to a gas attack on the night of 24th-25th May.
books.google.co.uk/books?id=61KqCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT77&...

But there were always the continual attrition of day to day warfare that could have seen him medically evacuated back to the coast.

Taken in: United Kingdom / England / Brantham (show map)

Taken on: September 1, 2016

Tags:

St Michael the Archangel Brantham

Brantham

England

In Memoria

Dulce et decorum est

Old Soldiers rest in peace

Remember them

Cause of death as yet unknown

Algernon Armitage

Algernon Henry John James Armitage

2nd Battalion Essex Regiment

26/06/1915

26th June 1915 « less

Sets appears in: • In memoria • Dulce et Decorum Est..Pro Patria Mori more » • Brantham • Cause of Death as yet Unknown « less

Groups appears in: • The Great War 1914 - 1918 • Old Soldiers (rest in peace) more » • REMEMBER THEM « less

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