John William Armstrong
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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John William Armstrong was born in 1894 he was the son of Albert a coal miner hewer and Emma Armstrong née Howis of 113 McKinley Cottages Blackwell Road Huthwaite Nottinghamshire. Albert was born in 1869 at North Wingfield, Emma Howis was born in 1874 at Huthwaite, they were married on 26th December 1892 at the Parish Church in Shirland, Derbyshire, they went on to have 8 children, sadly 3 died in infancy or early childhood. In 1911 the family lived at Blackwell Road, Huthwaite, Albert 42 yrs is a coal miner hewer, he is living with his wife Emma 37 yrs and their 5 children including John William a coal miner
9th Bn. Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment) Private John William Armstrong enlisted in 1914 and served with the Battalion in Gallipoli and then on the Western Front. He was wounded in the Battle of Thiepval (26-28 September 1916), probably in the first wave of the attack, and died on 28 September at at one of the two casualty clearing stations at Puchevillers. He is buried in Puchevillers British Cemetery, France (grave ref. IV.E.25). CWGC - History of Puchevillers British Cemetery (extract): 'In June 1916, just before the opening of the Battles of the Somme, the 3rd and 44th Casualty Clearing Stations came to Puchevillers. Plots I to V, and almost the whole of Plot VI were made by those hospitals before the end of March 1917. For the next two months the 2nd/1st South Midland Casualty Clearing Station used the cemetery.' (www.cwgc.org)
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Sadly missed silently mourned by his sorrwoing father mother and family' CWGC Additional information: 'Son of Albert and Emma Armstrong, of 113, McKinley Cottages, Blackwell Rd., Huthwaite, Notts. Native of Tibshelf, Derbyshire.' Mansfield Reporter, 10 November 1916: ‘Huthwaite ‘Sherwood’ Killed. News of the death of Private John William Armstrong was received on October 12th by his parents, who live at 113, McKinley Cottages, Blackwell-road, Huthwaite. Private Armstrong was the eldest son, and would have been 23 years of age if he had lived until last Wednesday. His number was 19233, 9th Battalion Sherwood Foresters, in which he enlisted just about two years ago, being then employed at Blackwell Colliery. He left this country 13 months ago for Egypt, being subsequently transferred to France, where he met his end. During that period he had not been on leave.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
