Trafford

Born at "Beech Hurst", Altrincham on the 28th May 1876, the eldest son of
William & Margaret Petrie Armitage.

1881 Census - The Mount, Altrincham.   Son - aged: 4 - 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 John and 3
servants.

1891 Census - School House Towers, Sedbergh School, Sedbergh, Yorkshire.   
Boarder - aged: 14 - Scholar - born: Altrincham, Cheshire.  Bernard Henry
Tower was the Head - aged: 31 - occ: Schoolmaster, Classical Teacher. 

1901 census - "Beech Hurst", Townfield, Altrincham, Cheshire.   Son -
UnMarried - aged: 24 occ: Architect - 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 was educated at Sedbergh School (Hart House) where he was a Prefect - No
518 in the School Register, attended from 1890 to December 1894 to work in
the office of his uncle - Mr.G. Faulkner Armitage J.P. then Mayor of
Altrincham.

He was a pupil of Architecture and design, passing through the Altrincham
Studios and the London Office and in 1909, he became a Partner in the
family firm of Armitage & Wolf     He was an active member of the Boys'
Club at the McKennal Institute, Altrincham. Grandson of the late William
Armitage, Townfield House, Altrincham.

1911 Census - West Acre, Oldfield Lane, Dunham Massey, Cheshire.   Head -
Married - aged: 34 - occ: House Furnisher - born: Altrincham, Cheshire.   
He is there with his 2 month old baby daughter - Anne Ryder and 3 servants.
  His wife, along with his two other children and a servant were boarders
at "Syene", Great Ormes Road, Llandudno.

On the 8th may 1903, at Bowden Downs, he married Miss Kathleen O'Hanlan,
the 2nd daughter of the late William O'Hanlan J.P., of Bowdon.    They had
one son and two daughters - Nancy Kathleen Armitage born 30/05/1904, Robert
Faulkner Armitage born 07/04/1906, Anne Ryder Armitage born 13/01/1911.  
Married Alice Kathleen O'Hanlon during the Jun Qtr 1903 at Altrincham R.D.
- ref: 8a/410.

MIC - Drafted to France on the 10th October 1916.  Awarded BWM & Victory.

WO 374 - height:5 feet 8 inches - occupation: House Furnisher and designer
- residing at: West Acre, Oldfield Lane, Altrincham.    Enlisted in the
3/5th Bn Cheshire Rgt.    Form 126a dated 9th June 1917, informing of the
address to which the late officer's effects are to be sent states that they
are to go to his widow - Kathleen Armitage at "Solli", Winton Road, Bowdon,
Cheshire.     His probate of will states that he formerly resided at
"Bayfield" Stamford Road, Bowdon.    Both his widow and his brother Noel
were beneficiaries of the will, dated 25th September 1905.    His estate
was valued at £2,150. 6.  6d.    In a reply dated 12th May 1919 to a
request by the War Office to confirm the address to send the memorial
plaque and scroll to, his widow confirms that she is still residing at
"Solli", Winton Road, Bowdon.    However, by 15th May 1919, her address is
listed as South Downs, Delamer Road, Bowdon.

The local newspaper stated that he was under age to enlist In August 1914
(totally incorrect), so enlisted in January 1915 and was "Gazetted" as a
Lieutenant, later Captain.  He remained at Camp, training recruits until
October 1916, when he was drafted to the front  on the 10th October 1916 in
charge of a Pioneer Bn - Earl of Chester's Bn.

The School Register states that he was killed in action at Monchy-sur-Preux
on the 7th May 1917, however, both the Soldiers Died and the CWGC state
that he was killed in action on the 17th May 1917.  The Battle of
Bullecourt took place from the 3rd to the 17th May 1917, so it would appear
that he was killed on the last day of that Battle.  The local newspaper
reports that he was killed by a "stray" shell (does that mean it was one of
ours ???) on the 17th May 1917 and stated that he lived at South Downs,
Delamere Road, Bowdon. He was the grandson of the late William Armitage of
Townfield House, Altrincham   Commemorated on the private family gravestone
in St. Mary's P.C., Bowdon Grave No 2193.

His father, William (who was a J.P.), died 23/03/1941 aged 92 years and his
mother Margaret Petrie (nee Mills) died l2/03/1919 aged 67 years  His
younger brother, Noel Armitage, who also attended Sedbergh School - No 759
in the School Register, was also killed on active service.     Whilst his
youngest brother, Captain Bryan Armitage was serving in England with the
R.A.F., having previously served at the front as a Major in the Lancashire
Fusiliers.

Listed in the Guardian Year Book - Roll of Honour for 1918, which states
that he lived at Delamere Road, Bowdon.

French M.I. - "The will to die, so only England lives".

Death reported in the 25/05/1917 edition of the Altrincham Guardian.

His father was a member of the Manchester Reform Club, 81 King Street,
Manchester.