Rfn
Herbert Ingham Armitage
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1895 |
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Place of birth: Dewsbury, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: 28 Water Lane, Dewsbury, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Messenger |
Army information
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Country: Verenigd Koninkrijk |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Rifleman |
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Service number: 371174 |
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Enlistment place: London, England, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — London Regiment (Post Office Rifles), 2nd/8th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 30/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Vanished Inn, France |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 22 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: LX Row: F Grave: 19 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Herbert Ingham Armitage was born about 1895 in Dewsbury, Yorkshire, England. He was the son of John Brooke and Ellen Armitage and lived at 28 Water Lane, Dewsbury, Yorkshire. In 1915, Herbert enlisted in the British Expeditionary Force in London, England. During the war, he served in 2/8th Battalion London (Post Office Rifles) Regiment (174th Brigade, 58th (1/2nd London) Division).
On Tuesday 30 October 1917, the 58th Division with the 174th Brigade attacked at 5.50 am southeast of Poelkappelle with the 2/8th Battalion and a company of the 2/6th Battalion. The order was to take Noble's Farm and the pillboxes south-east of it. The plan of attack was on short notice but the battalion was assembled with less than 20 casualties due to heavy German shelling and because of positioning in unfamiliar terrain. As early as 11 pm, on Monday 29 October 1917, the Germans attacked the British positions with machine-gun fire. Another German barrage came from the area between Brewery and Lekkerboter Beek between 3 am and 4.30 am on 30 October 1917.
The British barrage began at 5.40 am. However, their barrage was not enough to stop the Germans and their machine gun fire. According to sources, the barrage was too weak and too fast because of the condition of the ground. The German counter-barrage started at 5.44 am, which was also weak but still caused 20 per cent of total British casualties. The condition of the ground was very bad: the ground was covered in thick and sticky mud, in which soldiers were up to their knees, thighs and waists. They also slipped in shrapnel funnels, causing extreme fatigue early in the operation. It was thus impossible for the soldiers to get up with their own barrage; anyone who got up to go forward was exposed to machine-gun and rifle fire. The only posts the battalion could establish were south of Montroses Houses on the left and some small posts above Montroses Houses and near Blanc Coulon on the right. None of the posts were consolidated because of the condition of the terrain, but they were retained until the battalion was relieved.
On 30 October 1917, there were some 248 casualties in the 2/8th Battalion, including Herbert Ingham Armitage at the age of 22. He fell near Vanished Inn, just across the French border. He is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery (Plot LX, Row F, Grave 19). After his death, he received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
On Tuesday 30 October 1917, the 58th Division with the 174th Brigade attacked at 5.50 am southeast of Poelkappelle with the 2/8th Battalion and a company of the 2/6th Battalion. The order was to take Noble's Farm and the pillboxes south-east of it. The plan of attack was on short notice but the battalion was assembled with less than 20 casualties due to heavy German shelling and because of positioning in unfamiliar terrain. As early as 11 pm, on Monday 29 October 1917, the Germans attacked the British positions with machine-gun fire. Another German barrage came from the area between Brewery and Lekkerboter Beek between 3 am and 4.30 am on 30 October 1917.
The British barrage began at 5.40 am. However, their barrage was not enough to stop the Germans and their machine gun fire. According to sources, the barrage was too weak and too fast because of the condition of the ground. The German counter-barrage started at 5.44 am, which was also weak but still caused 20 per cent of total British casualties. The condition of the ground was very bad: the ground was covered in thick and sticky mud, in which soldiers were up to their knees, thighs and waists. They also slipped in shrapnel funnels, causing extreme fatigue early in the operation. It was thus impossible for the soldiers to get up with their own barrage; anyone who got up to go forward was exposed to machine-gun and rifle fire. The only posts the battalion could establish were south of Montroses Houses on the left and some small posts above Montroses Houses and near Blanc Coulon on the right. None of the posts were consolidated because of the condition of the terrain, but they were retained until the battalion was relieved.
On 30 October 1917, there were some 248 casualties in the 2/8th Battalion, including Herbert Ingham Armitage at the age of 22. He fell near Vanished Inn, just across the French border. He is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery (Plot LX, Row F, Grave 19). After his death, he received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Sources 5
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2/8 Battalion London Regiment war diary (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/3006/3). http://nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
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British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO372). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), p. 155. Sources used |
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Soldier's Effects records (National Army Museum, Chelsea (NAM) 1901-60; NAM Accesion Number: 1991-02-333). https://www.nam.ac.uk/ Sources used |
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War Office and Air Ministry: Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War (the National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 329). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461759 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=94c8cda0-eba5-4a64-bd51-29081885221b |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/62945 |