Photo: Dorothy Hall
Pauline Priano: Hooge Crater Cemetery
Pauline Priano: Hooge Crater Cemetery
Pauline Priano: Hooge Crater Cemetery
In St. Ebba's Churchyard is a family headstone which reads:
In
Loving memory of
Robert Armstrong
who died 1st July 1934
Aged 65 years
Also Catherine his beloved wife
Who died 3rd March 1970
Aged 84 years
Also Thomas, son of the above
killed in action in France
21st Sept. 1917 aged 20 years
Also Robert son of the above
dearly loved husband of Madge
of Springfield Lodge West Lane
who died 26th June 1986
Thomas, born 21st October 1897 at Blackhall Mill, was the son of Robert and Lydia Armstrong. Robert was a Beer House Keeper in 1901 at Blackhall Mill Inn. Lydia died in 1906. Later Robert married Catherine Hudson and they went on to have three sons and two daughters.
Thomas enlisted at Consett, 23rd February 1916. He was 18 years and 7 months old, living at Oak Villa, Ebchester and a Dairy Farmer. He joined the Durham Light Infantry. He was mobilised 2nd April 1917.
Thomas was killed 21st September 1917 and was buried on the battlefield. After the end of the conflict his remains were re-interred in Hooge Crater Cemetery. His father added "Peace Perfect Peace " to his headstone.
Awards: British War Medal; Victory Medal.
At some point in the 1920s Robert, Catherine and the family moved to Hollinside Farm, Lanchester.
Robert died in 1934 and is buried at St Ebba's Ebchester. In 1939 widow Catherine was living at Oak Villa, Ebchester with Joseph (1911) Daisy (1916) and Tom (1921). Daughter Mary Ann had married in 1937 James Stratton Wardle and was living at 33 The Briary Shotley Bridge. Stratton was killed in action in 1942.
Thomas Armstrong is remembered at Ebchester on E58.01and E58.02 at Blackhall Mill on B167.01 and at Lanchester on L62.01
He is also remembered in The DLI Book of Remembrance page 256
