Arras Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Edward (Edwin) Henry Armstrong was born 1898 at Gateshead, the eldest of 2 sons and 2 daughters, (1 deceased gender unknown). His father John Anderson Armstrong born 1870 at Newcastle -upon-Tyne, a paper ruler at a printers, married Amelia Ellen Thomas native of Gateshead at St. Edmund’s, June 9th 1894. They initially lived at 6, Mansfield Terrace, Gateshead later moving to 40, Sutherland Street in 1911, Edward was 12 years old and a scholar.
Whilst living at Pelaw, Edward Henry Armstrong enlisted at Gateshead assigned as Private 307010 to the 2nd Battalion Notts and Derby (Sherwood Foresters) Regiment and transferred to the 5th Battalion a Territorial Force. The main body of the battalion was mobilised August 5th 1914 and departed to France, February 25th 1915 and ordered to Egypt in the December remaining there only until January 13th when they were ordered back to France. Private Armstrong was drafted in 1916 and joined the regiment in the field. July 1st 1916 they took part in the diversionary attack at Gommecourt. In 1917 they were in action during the Operations on the Ancre, occupation of the Gommecourt defences, the attack on Rettemoy Graben, the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line, the attack on Lievin and the Battle of Hill 70. During 1918 they saw action during the Battle of the St Quentin canal, including the passage of the canal at Bellenglise, the Battle of the Beaurevoir Line, the Battle of Cambrai, the Battle of the Selle and the Battle of Sambre.
The Battle of St. Quentin was fought over 2 days, March 21st-23rd 1918. At its conclusion Private Armstrong was among the missing and later declared presumed dead. Private 307010 Edward Henry Armstrong Notts and Derby (Sherwood Foresters) Regiment is deemed to have died March 21st 1918, he was 20 years old.
His sacrifice is recorded as one of almost 35,000 names inscribed on the Arras Memorial within Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery, Arras, France, commemorating servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector during spring 1916 until August 7th 1918 and who have no known grave.
His father received all monies due to him and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Edward Henry Armstrong is remembered at Heworth on H92.03
