Name
Ernest William Armitage
8 August 1892
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
25/06/1918
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
20432
Bedfordshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
WARLOY-BAILLON COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
VI.G.1
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Welwyn Village memorials, Luton War memorial, Beds Roll of Honour, WW1, Luton, Beds
Pre War
Ernest William Armitage was born in Welwyn, Herts on 8 August 1892, the son of George Charles Armitage and Sarah (nee Roft), and baptised at St Mary's, Welwyn on 2 October 1892.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at 24 Mimram Road, Welwyn and his father was working as a Coal Carman. By 1911, they had moved to Greenhill, Pepperstock, Luton, Beds and Ernest was working as an agricultural worker.
He had a daughter, Lily Florence, who was born on 25 April 1914 but died a few months later. He married her mother Lily Ellor in Luton in early 1915, but unfortunately she died on 5 March 1915, aged 21.
His mother gave her address as 26 Albert Road, Luton, Beds on pension cards.
Wartime Service
Ernest enlisted at Bedford and joined the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment.
In June 1918 the Battalion were in the front line at Molliens au Bois near Amiens. Ernest was one of three soldiers from Possum Trench and Carson Trench killed in action on 25 June 1918 during the battles of the Somme 1918.
A year earlier Pte Armitage he had performed an exceedingly brave act and received on a card through his commanding officer: “Your C.O. And Brigade Commander have informed me that you have distinguished yourself during the fighting at Hill 70 in April 1917. You displayed great bravery in carrying communications up to the front under heavy shell fire.”
In a letter to Mrs Sarah Armitage, Capt P. J. Reiss wrote that her son's death had occurred on June 26th*. Ernest was a member of a Lewis gun team in the front line, and he had been nearby when Pte Armitage was killed instantly by a piece of trench mortar entering his head from behind. His body was carried out the same evening and he had been properly buried in an English cemetery.
He was buried at Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension, France, with fellow soldiers James Kidd and Cecil Perkins.
Additional Information
His mother received a war gratuity of £14 and his pay owing of £8 12s 2d. She also received a pension of 8 shillings a week.
Brother Alec Franck served as a Driver with Royal Engineers in Middle East Forces. Pte Armitage's eldest brother was killed during the Boar War, and another brother was serving in Egypt with the Bedfords. His father George had died early in 1914.
His middle name of Ernest is sometimes spelt as Earnest on forms.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper, Brenda Palmer
Brenda Palmer, www.bedfordregiment.org.uk, www.worldwar1luton.com
