In Sunderland (Southwick) Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave of:

530281 Private
H. O. Armstrong
P.W.O. Civil Service Rifles
6th January 1917 age 19.

He died
that others might live

The son of Alfred and Mary Ellen Armstrong, of 38, Grosvenor Street Southwick on Wear. He was born at Newcastle upon Tyne.

Derek Haynes has provided the following:

Henry was born in the June Q 1897 in the registration district of Newcastle, one of five children born to Alfred Frame and Mary Ellen Armstrong (nee Sayer) who were married in the June Q 1894 also in Newcastle.
William born June Q 1895 Newcastle
Alfred Stanley born September 1899 Newcastle
Mary Ellen born December Q 1901 Newcastle
Doris born 31st March 1913 in Sunderland

At the time of the 1901 census Henry and his brother Alfred were living with their Aunt and Uncle William F. and Hannah Armstrong and their son William F. in three rooms at 262 Stanton Street, Elswick, Newcastle. Henry’s parents Alfred and Mary can be found living in four rooms at 238 Croydon Road also in Elswick, living with them is Alfred’s mother Elizabeth. Alfred was employed as a Linotype Operator working in the printing industry.

Sometime between 1901 and the next census return (1911) Henry and his family had moved to the parish of Southwick. They were living in five rooms at 42 Grosvenor Street; Henry was now aged 13 years and going to school along with his brother Alfred and sister Mary, also living with them was Mary Ellen’s mother Margaret Sayers. Henry’s father was still employed as a Linotype Operator.

The 3rd January 1913 edition of the London Gazette reports that on the 10th January 1910 Henry was registered as a Temporary Boy Clerk.

At the beginning of the First World War Henry employed as a Clerk enlisted in the 15th London Regiment serving as a Private with the regimental number 1889. He also spent time as an acting Corporal. At some time though still serving with the London Regiment his sub unit became the 15th (County of London) Battalion (Prince of Wales Own) Civil Service Rifles and he was given a new number 530281. Henry’s medal card shows that the theatre of war he first served in was France, entering there on the 17th March 1915 until the 25th October 1916. It would appear that Henry did not return to the front as only 3 months later on the 6th January 1917 he was to die of his wounds in Leeds Military Hospital. Henry would have only been 17 years old when he first served in France, for his service to his country he was awarded the 1915 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

Henry’s body was returned to 11 Clarence Street, Southwick and on the 10th January 1917 he was laid to rest in Section P Grave no. 6025 of Southwick Cemetery.

As there are no service records for Henry we do not know what age he gave when enlisting, but it can be seen that like many other young men who were too young to enlist but wanted to fight for their country he did not give his correct age.

Recruitment rules were simple. To enlist and fight abroad, you had to be nineteen or over. If you were eighteen, you could enlist but you had to remain in the UK until you were nineteen before being posted abroad. No one could join the army under the age of eighteen. (Records show that these rules were not always followed).

The date of birth for Doris is taken from the 1939 Register; there are errors in this register with some dates of birth. A birth certificate would resolve whether the information is correct.

By 1939 Alfred and Mary are residing at 6 Wearmouth Avenue, Sunderland with their youngest daughter Doris who was aged 26. Alfred had retired from his job as a Linotype Operator/Compositor; Mary was running the household while Doris was employed as a Book Keeper for a clothing firm.

Henry’s father Alfred died on the 13th October 1948 aged 79 years; he was cremated at Newcastle Crematorium at 10. 30 a.m. on the 14th October.

His mother Mary Ellen died in the March Q 1950 in Sunderland.

Henry Oswald Armstrong is remembered at Southwick on S130.22, at Sunderland on S140.017,  in S140.48 Part 12 page 262, in the Bede School Magazines and in Peter Gibson’s book.