William Armstrong

Jean Longstaff has submitted the following:-

The son of local quarryman James Armstrong and his wife Ellen or Eleanor (nee Jewitt) William Armstrong, born on 15th September 1880 in Ovington, Northumberland was their first son, born after sisters Mary Ann and Elizabeth. He also had younger siblings Margaret, Thomas and John; all the children apart from John were born at Ovington.

By 1891 the family had moved to Matfen and were living with James’ father, after his death the family remained in Matfen and James became a farmer, while William aged 20, followed his father’s original trade and became a stonemason. His father died in December 1905, and the following year William emigrated to Canada, settling in Calgary, Alberta and finding work as a stonecutter in a local quarry.

On 10th October 1915 William enlisted with the 50th (Alberta) Battalion in Calgary, becoming Private 435312 and naming his widowed mother then living in Fourstones as his next of kin. Two weeks later Private Armstrong set sail with the Battalion on the SS Orduna, arriving in Plymouth on 4th November and a posting to Bramshott Camp, Hampshire.

After more training in England the Battalion, as part of the 10th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division left Southampton on 10th August 1916 arriving in billets in the Somme Valley a few days later. Appointed Lance Corporal in October, the Battalion’s first major Battle was at Ancre Heights, and a few days later on 18th November Lance Corporal Armstrong received multiple wounds to his right side, arm and leg during fighting at Regina Trench.

Admitted to hospital in Rouen as seriously ill, his right arm was amputated ten days later. Developing tetanus, by 9th December 1916 he was dangerously ill and died three days later.

His mother living in Blaydon was granted his pension after his death, but this was withdrawn in 1920 as she was found to be ineligible.

William Armstrong is remembered in Matfen on M2.01

In Canada he is remembered on their Virtual War Memorial and in their Book of Remembrance, and on the Calgary Soldiers’ Memorial.

Canadian Book of Remembrance
Canadian Virtual Memorial
The CWGC entry for Lance Corporal Armstrong