S. Armstrong
Heslop's Local Advertiser
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Samuel Armstrong was born 1885 at Windy Nook, near Gateshead, County Durham, the 4th born son and one of 9 children, 5 sons and 4 daughters. His father Samuel Armstrong Snr was born at Bolton, Lancashire in 1842 and having moved to Carlisle, Cumberland, met there a local girl, Mary Routledge born 1843 whom he married there in 1863. They had moved to Newcastle-upon-Tyne by 1867 with their daughters Elizabeth and Rebecca, their first son John was born at Newton, Northumberland in 1872 and by 1874 they were living at Heworth, near Gateshead. In 1881 they were living at Teasdale’s Square, Samuel Snr was the only breadwinner, employed as a waggonwright. Ten years later he had been joined at the colliery by John (19) employed as a banksman and Simon (14) a screener, daughter Mary (17) was a dressmaker, the younger children, Sarah (12), Richard (10) and Samuel Jnr (6) were scholars, William the youngest was only 2 years old.
Samuel Armstrong Jnr married in 1903 at Morpeth, Northumberland Jane Ann Thompson born at Blyth in 1880. In 1911 he was employed as a hewer, living at 5, Newsham Street, Crofton, Blyth, with his wife and 3 children Elizabeth Moore Armstrong born 1904, Norman in 1907 and Robert Thompson Armstrong in 1910, later in 1913 they had another son Joseph.
On the outbreak of war he enlisted at Blyth, assigned as Private 17346 to the 10th Yorkshire Hussars (Alexandra, Princes of Wales’ Own), a Kitchener Battalion attached to the 62nd Brigade, 21st Division. They moved to Halton Park near Tring for training in October 1914. Between November 1914 and May 1915 they were in billets at Aylesbury before returning to Halton Park. August 1915 they were moved to Whitley Camp before leaving as part of the British Expeditionary Force for France, September 9th 1915, landing at Boulogne the following day. They saw action in a supporting role during the French attack at the Battle of Loos, September 25th-13th October 1916 having had little experience of trench warfare. Private 17346 Samuel Armstrong Yorkshire Regiment was killed in the Armentieres sector, March 16th 1916, during the allied preparation for the commencement of the Battles of the Somme.
Private Armstrong is interred at Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, Nord, France grave IX. F. II, he was 30 years old.
His widow Jane Ann received all monies due to him, his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at her home address of 5, Nesham Street, Crofton, Blyth, Northumberland. She was also awarded a pension for herself and their children until she remarried at Tynemouth during the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) of 1917 Henry McFarlane. Jane gave birth to a son William J. McFarlane in 1919. Jane Ann McFarlane-Armstrong nee Thompson died in 1956 aged 76 years registered at Northumberland Central.
Samuel’s youngest brother William (Toby) Armstrong also served during WW1 as a member of the Royal Naval Reserve, he survived the conflict and died in his 50’s during the war years 1939-1946 of a heart attack.
Samuel’s mother Mary Armstrong nee Routledge died at Gateshead in 1904 aged 61 years, his father Samuel Snr, details unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Samuel's death was included in Heslop's Local Advertiser 22/04/1916:
"Private Samuel Armstrong, killed in action in France on March 16th, aged 31 years. Son of Samuel and the late Mary Armstrong, of Windy Nook."
Samuel Armstrong is remembered at Cowpen on C58.01 and at Blyth on B42.24 and at Windy Nook W95.16