Photo: Pauline Priano
SS Cambria
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Charles Armitage, one of 11 children of whom only 9 survived, was the 2nd born of 5 sons and had 2 elder and 2 younger sisters. His parents John George Armitage born 1865 and Annie Nicholson Ancrum, born September 9th 1867, were natives of Gateshead, County Durham and married at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1886. Their daughter Louisa Ethel was born March 12th 1887 at Gateshead where she was baptised April 6th, Martha in 1889 and John George Jnr, known as Jack, October 22nd 1891 whilst the family were living at 14, St, James’s Road, where John George Snr was employed as a locomotive engine painter. Ten years later they had moved to number 108, St James’s Road and he was now a foreman painter supporting a further 5 children, William Charles born 14th September and baptised October 8th 1893, Selina Maud known as Lena, February 22nd and baptised March 11th 1896, Albert Victor born 1897 and baptised April 28th, Florence May, known as Flossie, 1899 and Harold Redworth Armitage in 1901. The youngest Cecil was born in 1905.
By 1911, with the exception of Louisa who was living in the home of widower George William Pinkney and daughter, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, as a servant, the family resided in 5 rooms at 30, Melbourne Street, Gateshead. John George Snr maintained his employment at the locomotive works, Martha (21) worked as a machinist, John Jnr (19) was a hairdresser for his own account and employed Victor (13) as his assistant, William Charles (17) worked as a hosier’s assistant, Florence (12), Harold (10) and Cecil (5) were scholars, their mother attended to household duties.
War was declared with Germany in August 1914, William Charles Armitage was single, however he married at St. Mary’s Church, Gateshead, June 7th 1915 to Nora Jane Lennox, a local girl born November 10th 1889. The couple lived at 221, Alexandra Road, Gateshead, William supported his wife working as a shop manager. He enlisted at Gateshead, December 11th 1915 and was assigned to the 3rd Battalion Durham Light Infantry as Private 32047, posted to the depot at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. He joined his regiment as part of the coastal defences at South Shields where he was also trained for service overseas. On 3 occasions he was docked several days' pay for twice absenting himself without permission and when on leave overstaying his leave.
May 1st 1916 Private Armitage was mobilised, at the time his wife was heavily pregnant with their first child and gave birth to a daughter, whom they named Jean, July 24th 1916, two weeks later, August 7th 1916, William Charles was posted to the British Expeditionary Force and departed to France. August 25th having arrived at the 35th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples he joined the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry until being posted three days later to the 20th (Wearside) Battalion D.L.I. joining his regiment in the field on the Somme, attached to the 41st Division, where they entered the front line fighting at Flers, September 14th 1916. September 16th Private Armitage was injured whilst in the trenches, sustaining a sprain which his Commanding Officer stated was no fault of his own. Evacuated back through the lines he was admitted to the 1st New Zealand Field Ambulance, transferred to the General Hospital and repatriated to Eastbourne, England, aboard the S.S. Cambria of the London and North Western Railways which had been requisitioned by the Admiralty and converted to a Hospital Ship. The injury to his ankle required surgery and once recuperated he was posted for retraining to the 3rd D.L.I and attached November 12th 1916 to the 2nd Training Reserve of the 17th (Reserve) Battalion D.L.I. at Rugeley, Staffordshire, until January 28th 1917. Considered fit to join his regiment at the front Private Armitage posted to the British Expeditionary Force, March 6th 1917, departed to France and at the 35th Infantry Base Depot, Etaples, was assigned to the 22nd Battalion (Durham Pioneers) ‘B’ Company, Durham Light Infantry, 8th Division, March 23rd 1917, joining his regiment which had moved from the Somme to the Ypres salient in Belgium. The pioneers were hard at work digging new and repairing old trenches, maintaining the lines of communication and laying a light railway in preparation for the forthcoming Third Battle of Ypres (July 31st-November 10th 1917). The Pioneers undertook their work subjected to constant shell fire and gas attacks.
A telegraph message received by the Infantry Office York at 8.20 a.m. July 21st 1917 informed them that the lifeless body of Private 32047 William Charles Armitage Durham Light Infantry had been received by the 55th Field Ambulance, July 20th 1917, he having been killed in action, July 15th 1917. Private Armitage was laid to rest at Belgian Battery Corner Cemetery, on the outskirts of Ypres, Belgium, begun by the 8th Division in June 1917, row I. A. 18.
His widow, now living at 22, Princess Street, Gateshead, County Durham, received all monies due to him by the Army, a pension for herself and their child as of January 26th 1918 of 18 shillings 9 pence a week and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal. Personal items consisting of; letters, photos, cards, wallet, cap badge, small pendant, calendar and disc were received by her, September 4th 1917.
Nora Jane re-married at Gateshead in 1921 to Benjamin Round with whom she had a son, Kenneth, born November 23rd 1923. In 1939 they were living at 26, Avenue Road, Gateshead. Benjamin was a drysaltery and pickle traveller, Nora a housekeeper, Jean was employed as a confectionary shop assistant and Kenneth a plumber's apprentice.
Nora Jane Round-Armitage nee Lennox died aged 58 years in 1949, district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, Benjamin Round aged 82 years in 1972, district of Gateshead, County Durham.
William Charles and Nora Jean’s daughter Jean Armitage married in the district of Richmond, Yorkshire, in 1940, to Norman Stout of Westbourne Avenue, Gateshead, born June 15th 1917. Jean Stout nee Armitage died aged 69 in 1985, her husband Norman in 1994 aged 76.
Her half-brother Kenneth Round was married at Gateshead in 1948 to Vera Bentham born November 23rd 1923. Kenneth died in 2000 aged 76 years, district of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, Vera Round nee Bentham in 2012 aged 88 years.
The eldest of the Armitage children, Louisa Ethel was married at Gateshead, December 25th 1912 to widower George William Pinkney native of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, born 1879 who had a daughter Ethel Mordue born July 6th 1905. Sapper George William Pinkney 153rd Field Coy Royal Engineers was killed in action, July 17th 1917 on the Ypres salient and is believed to have been interred at Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery, West Vlaanderen, near Ypres, Belgium, Special Memorial H. 32. She re-married in April 1919 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne to Robert William Thompson, born August 29th 1885 and with whom she had a son born August 7th 1924, Gordon R. Thompson. In 1939, Robert, Louise and Gordon were living at 369, Two Ball Lonen, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Details of step-daughter Ethel Mordue Pinkney, unknown.
John George Armitage Snr died at Gateshead in 1935 aged 69 years, William Charles’s mother Annie Nicholson Armitage nee Ancrum of 90, Wordsworth Street, Gateshead, February 18th 1945 aged 77 years, at Bensham Hospital Gateshead, County Durham. Probate April 13th 1945 to Florence May Blenkinsop (wife of Robert Blenkinsop). Effects 245 pounds 2 shillings 5 pence.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William Charles Armitage is remembered at Gateshead on G39.004
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 183
