Trafford

Born at Altrincham on the 12th July 1880, the second son of William &
Margaret Petrie Armitage.

1881 Census - The Mount, Altrincham.   Son - aged: 0 - Scholar - born:
Altrincham, Cheshire.    Head of Household - William Armitage Jnr -
(father) - aged: 32 - occ: Cottom Merchant (Dealer) - born: Longsight,
Manchester.     Margaret F Armitage (mother) - Wife - aged: 29 - born:
Ashton under Lyne, Lancashire.    Plus two sisters, brother Noel and 3
servants.

1891 Census -  "Beech Hurst", Townfield, Altrincham, Cheshire.   Son -
aged: 10 - born: Altrincham.    Head of Household - William Armitage
(father) - Married - aged: 42 - occ: Cotton Merchant - born: Manchester.  
His mother - Margaret P. Armitage - Wife - aged: 39 - born: Ashton under
Lyne, Lancashire.  Plus 1 sister and two servants.

He attended Sedbergh School, Sedbergh, Yorkshire (Hart House) from 1896 to
1899.

1901 census - "Beech Hurst", Townfield, Altrincham, Cheshire.   Son -
UnMarried - aged: 20 occ: Cotton Merchant - born: Altrincham.   Head of
Household - William Armitage (father) - Married - aged: 52 - occ: Cotton
Merchant - born: Manchester.   His mother - Margaret P. Armitage - Wife -
aged: 49 - born: Ashton under Lyne, Lancashire.  Plus 2 brothers, 2 sisters
and four servants.

He married Alice Marion Cox during the Jun Qtr 1907 at Wycombe R.D. - ref:
3a/1495.

1911 Census - The Wood House, Lower Withington, Chelford, Cheshire.   Head
- Married - aged: 30 - occ: Cotton Manufacturer and Merchant - born:
Altrincham.  His wife was not at home on census night - only his two
servants.    His wife - Alice Marion Armitage was then staying at The
Mount, Louth, Lincolnshire where her father - Henry Cox was the Clerk in
Holy Orders. 

Prior to enlisting, he lived at The Woodhouses, Lower Withington, Chelford,
Cheshire.

WO 374 - He enlisted as a private in the Cheshire Yeomanry at Eccleston on
the 1st September 1914, he was residing at The Woodhouses (or the Wood
House?), Lower Withington, Chelford, Cheshire.   He was aged 34 years and
his trade was:Cotton Manufacturer & Merchant.  His complexion was: Fair,
his eyes: grey, his hair: light and his religion was: Church of England.   
He was sent to Landley Park, Norwich and was Innoculated against Typhoid in
October 1914.   His regimental number was 1128.   He was 5 feet 9½ inches
in height and weighed 160 lb.  His chest measurement was 39/2 inches and
was considered to be of good physical development.    He was commissioned
in the Cheshire Yeomanry on the 23rd February 1915.    He was married to
Marion Armitage and had a daughter - Elizabeth Mary Armitage who was born
at Chelford on the 14th November 1907.    On the 24th January 1915, his
address was given as Beech Hurst, Altrincham.   On the 21st February 1916,
he was transferred from the 1st [1] Bn Cheshire Yeomanry, then stationed at
Lowestoft, to the 3rd [2] Bn Scottish Horse at Alford Camp, Louth,
Lincolnshire and this was announced in the London Gazette on the the 13th
March 1916.    He was promoted to the rank of Captain on the 4th October
1916.

On the 28th May 1918, his widow - Marion, signed form No.126a requesting
his effects should be sent to Wood Lawn, Belmont Road, Hale.   His Probate
of Will states that he was residing at"The White House", Drummond Road,
Skegness, Lincolnshire and formerly of "The Wood House", Lower Withington,
Chelford.    His estate was valued at £18,239. 15.  0d was to go to his
widow.    In May 1919, in her reply to a query about the address to which
the Memorial Plaque was to be sent to, Mrs. Armitage states that it will be
"nice to hand onto her son".  

Enlisted as a Trooper in the Cheshire Yeomanry in August 1914  
Commissioned on the 23rd February 1915  Transferred to the 2/3rd Bn
Scottish Horse in March 1916.  He transferred again in November 1917 when
he went to the front in France - attached to the Gloucester Rgt as a
Lieutenant.  Between January and March 1917 he was drafted to the Italian
front.   His Division returned to the Western Front in April 1918 where a
few weeks later, he was killed by a machine gunner.  Two of a number of
letters sent to his widow from his comrades read (1) 'tWe had taken a good
sized bit of ground, captured thirty nine prisoners and three machine guns,
so although I regret his death, he did not die in vain"  (2) "We had been
ordered to take two farmhouses 200 yards in front of the front line on the
Merville side of the Nieppe Forest. Your husband and his platoon had to
take the farm on the right of our line, We attacked at 22.00 hours and
everything was going well, when suddenly machine gun fire was opened on us
from the right  Your husband, seeing that it was causing casualties to our
troops in the attack, drew his revolver and bravely rushed it.   He was
killed instantly with several of his men about eight yards away"

"Soldiers Died" states that he was in the Scottish Horse, as does the Hale
Cenotaph. - Household Cavalry & Cavalry of the Line (inc. Yeomanry &
Imperial Camel Corps).. St. St. Peter's P.C. memorial also states Scottish
Horse, as does his family gravestone - 2/3rd Bn. Scottish Horse.

His widow and two children were living at The Woodlawn, Belmont Rd,
Altrincham at the time of his death. Commemorated on the private family
gravestone in St. Mary's, Bowdon. Grave No.2193.

His father, William died 23/03/1941 aged 92 years and his mother, Margaret
Petrie died 12/03/1919 aged 67 years.

His elder brother, John Basil Armitage was also killed on active service  
His younger brother, Captain Bryan Armitage was, at the time of his death,
serving in England with the R.A.F., having previously served at the front
as a Major in the Lancashire Fusiliers.

French M.I. - "Well done good and faithful servant".

Death reported in the 10/05/1918 edition of the Altrincham Guardian.