He was a Police Constable, and was killed on the 24th May 1943, at the Regent Garage.
This is the official report of the bombing raid : NE Diary 1939 45. N1359.
South Shields. This was the last raid in which bombs were dropped on South Shields and it was one of the more serious with regard to loss of life and property, it centred on the Westoe and Cauldwell areas where four 500kg. HE bombs and four Phosphorous bombs were dropped at 03.19 on Sunday morning. They fell on Marsden Street, Stevenson Street, Dean Road and Hepscott Terrace.
These were percussion bombs said to be fitted with rods at the nose of the bomb, so that they exploded before they penetrated the ground, they made no craters but the damage above ground was extensive. The floorboards of a downstairs flat in Stevenson Street were undamaged although the entire building above ground was totally destroyed.
About twenty dwelling houses, shops, and the front of the ARP stores at the Regent Garage were completely shattered and many more had to be demolished later. About fifty other shops and houses were seriously damaged and 500 other properties, including the Regent Cinema and the Roman Catholic School, then at 'Wyvestow Lodge', suffered. The Dean Road wardens post was damaged, as was the entrance to a public shelter adjoining. The bomb there fell on the road between the Regent Garage and the wardens post opposite. There was no crater but the tram lines were torn up and a water main burst. Another water main at the end of Hartington Terrace was also damaged.
Owing to the densely populated nature of the Marsden Street district, casualties were heavy and the material damage widespread. Unhappily the Police Force and the ARP Service suffered the loss of one regular Police Officer, three Wardens and one Fireguard. 300 people were rendered homeless and temporary accommodation was provided at a Rest Centre. The siren on the roof of the Regent Cinema was put out of action. The Phosphorous bombs all fell harmlessly on fields at Harton Moor and Cauldwell.
Casualties were:- 21 men, 3 women and 2 children killed / 14 men and 10 women seriously injured / 8 men, 11 women and 3 children slightly injured.
Joseph Sproat Armstrong is remembered at South Shields on S86.032, S86.034 and at Westoe in W101.08 page 3.
He is also remembered on the Police Memorial Trust site
