Frank Armitage 1888-1916

Frank Armitage (thanks to JP and TB for the photo)

Born:
11 October 1888 (calculated from his age at enlistment) in Barnsley, Yks

Son of:
Joseph Armitage b.1855 Darton d.1931 Barnsley
1911: Iron Foundry Fettler 14 Blucher Street, Barnsley
married 1.1873 to Nancy (maiden name Field) b.1854 Darton d.1885 Barnsley
married 2. 1888 to Ellen (maiden name Lodge) b.1865 Leeds d.1933 Barnsley

Position in family: The eighth of eleven children in total, eldest son of second marriage
1. Joseph Wade Armitage b.1874 d.1934 WW1 SERVICE m.Nellie Duncan
2. Hannah Armitage b.1875 d.1875
3. Sarah Catherine Armitage b.1878 m.John Walker
4. Elizabeth Ellen Armitage b.1878 d.1896
5. Clara Annie Armitage b.1881
6. Stephen Armitage b.1883 d.1884
7. John William Armitage b.1885 d.1886
8. Frank Armitage b.1888 WW1 KILLED
9. Walter Armitage b.1890 WW1 SERVICE m.Ada Farnsworth
10. Elsie Armitage b.1894 d.1895
11. Eva Armitage b.1896 d.1904

Home address, age and occupation:
1891: 14 Blucher Street age 2
1901: 14 Blucher Street age 12 Scholar
1911: 112 St George's Road age 22 Loom Fitter
1915: 13 Blucher Street age 26 years 113 days Fitter

Marriage: Frank was married to Marion (maiden name White) b.10 July 1888 
at St George's Church on 17 February 1910

Children:
1. Marjorie Armitage b.8 April 1910
2. Joseph Armitage b.29 July 1911
3. Clifford Armitage b.1 January 1913
4. Roy Armitage b.17 March 1915

Military Service:
Enlisted: 1 February 1915 at the age 26 years 113 days
Regiment and Battalion:   14th Battalion (2nd Barnsley) York and Lancaster Regiment
Service number and rank:  14/366  Private
Transferred to: West Yorkshire Regiment Service no.6347 and 202992
Awards: British War Medal, Victory Medal

Personal information:   5' 4.75" tall, 34" chest, weight 116lbs

Death:     28 September 1916 aged 28 years
Buried at: Connaught Cemetery, Thiepval, France
Grave Reference:  I B 20

Information from Commonwealth War Graves Commission:
Son of Mr and Mrs J Armitage of Barnsley, husband of Mrs Marion Armitage of 13 Blucher Street, Barnsley, Yorks.

Remembered:
Frank is remembered on his parents' gravestone in Barnsley Cemetery.

Notes:
A blog post here gives more information about Frank's army service and the battle in which he was killed.

Frank, Wade and Walter with Joseph seated
(thanks again to JP and TB)

Frank's grandaughter JP contacted us to let us know that he had been remembered as part of the event at the Tower of London in August this year (2014).  She also arranged the supply of the photos on this page by TB another Armitage descendant.  Our very grateful thanks!

This picture shows Joseph Armitage b.1855 who was 36 years the Caretaker of Blucher Street United Methodist Church and his three sons, Frank, Joseph Wade (known as Wade in the family) and Walter - the youngest looking so much taller than his brothers!

A nephew, Sydney Armitage also served.  He was the son of Sarah Catherine, but brought up by Joseph snr as if he was his own son.  The story goes that he was too young to sign up for the Barnsley Pals with his brothers so he ran away and joined the Royal Welsh Fusiliers instead.

Marion Armitage about 1935 (thanks to JP and TB)

Marion Armitage was initially told that Frank was missing in action.  It took nearly a year for the information to get back to Barnsley that he had definitely been killed.  

Marion did not remarry, she remained at 13 Blucher Street with her four children until 1926 when the family moved to one of the new estates being built just outside the centre of Barnsley.

She died in 1967 and is buried in same grave as her parents-in-law, the one on which Frank is remembered.