ARMITAGE, Walter
| Service Number: | 1650 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 12 January 1915, Liverpool, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 3rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Norsborough, near Barnsley, Yorkshire UK, 1888 |
| Home Town: | Granville, Parramatta, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Park Road School Barnsley UK |
| Occupation: | Pattern Maker |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Gallipoli, Dardanelles, Turkey, 7 August 1915 |
| Cemetery: |
Lone Pine Cemetery, ANZAC M 5, Lone Pine Cemetery, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Baulkham Hills William Thompson Masonic School War Memorial, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Sydney United Grand Lodge Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 12 Jan 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1650, 3rd Infantry Battalion, Liverpool, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Feb 1915: | Involvement Private, 1650, 3rd Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Seang Choon embarkation_ship_number: A49 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Feb 1915: | Embarked Private, 1650, 3rd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Seang Choon, Sydney |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Walter ARMITAGE was born on 2 November 1887 at Barnsley, Yorkshire, UK. He joined the NSWGR&T as a patternmaker (temporary) in the Locomotive Branch at Eveleigh on 20 January 1913. His position was reclassified as permanent on 12 April 1914.
On 12 January 1915 he enlisted in the AIF with the rank of Private (Service Number 1650) and was assigned to the 3rd Reinforcements to the 3rd Infantry Battalion. He nominated his father, Squire Armitage of Barnsley, Yorkshire, UK, as his next of kin. At the time of his enlistment he was living at William St, Granville.
Walter embarked aboard HMAT A49 ‘Seang Choon’ at Sydney for Egypt on 11 February 1915. From Egypt he was sent to Gallipoli where he was taken on strength of the 3rd Infantry Battalion on 26 May 1915. There he was reported as missing in action between 7 and 12 August 1915. At a Court of Enquiry held in in the field in France on 5 June 1916 one piece of evidence tendered stated:
‘Witness saw Armitage’s body lying dead on the field passed over in the charge at Lone Pine on Aug. 7. The body was not recovered. It lay in a position which could not be got at, because of the Turkish fire. Witness had an extraordinary [sic] good memory, and his evidence appeared specially good.’
The Court determined that he had been killed in action sometime during the period 7-12 August 1915.
After the end of WW I his body was exhumed and identified by the disc still with him. His body was re-interred at Lone Pine Cemetery, Row Z, Grave 5.
At various times, starting after he was reported missing, AIF Base Records was contacted by Miss Ivy Thackeray of the same address as Walter’s before he enlisted, to ask for more information and also to establish that she was the sole beneficiary of his Will. No information on the nature of the relationship between Walter and Ivy Thackeray can be found.
(NAA B2455-3035224)
Submitted 9 May 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of Squire ARMITAGE of 133 Park Road, Barnsley, England
Member of the Earl Carnarvon 180 Lodge
PRIVATE WALTER ARMITAGE, Has been reported missing between August 7th and 14th. He left Granville on 11th February, with the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements. He was in the trenches from the 14th of May. He was 28 years of age, and was a member of the Granville branch of the Yorkshire Society. Mr. Thackray, of William-street, Granville, would be pleased to receive any information from returned soldiers, who may know anything of him.
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