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| Casualty No.: |
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Ranks: |
Private |
Initials: |
J |
Service No.: |
11578 |
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| Date of Birth : |
- |
Place of Birth : |
West Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham. |
Age at Death: |
23 |
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| Unit: |
2nd Bn Durham Light Infantry. Attached to 18th Brigade, 6th Division, 1st Corps. |
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| Former Unit(s): |
Formerly 595 of the 4th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers (Territorials) |
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| Place Enlisted: |
Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland. |
| Place of Residence: |
West Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham. |
| Home Address: |
1 Townley Cottages, West Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham. |
| Previous Address: |
20 Emmaville, West Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham. 6 Thorpe Cottages, West Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham. |
| Civilian Employment: |
Formerly a miner at Emma Colliery. |
| How Died: |
Killed in action |
| Date of Death: |
Monday 21st September 1914 |
| Place of Death: |
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| Battle/Campaign: |
Battle of the Aisne, 13th September - 3rd October 1914. |
| Locally Commemorated: |
Ryton War Memorial, Station Bank, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
Emma Colliery Memorial, Crawcrook, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
Ryton Holy Cross Church Shrine, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
Robert Young Memorial Church, Crawcrook, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
Congregational Church, Main Road, Barmoor, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
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| UK Commemorated: |
- |
| Overseas Commemorated: |
La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial, Seine-et-Marne, France. |
| Buried: |
No known grave. |
| Decoration and Medals: |
1914 Star. War Medal. Victory Medal. |
| Photographs: |
3 |
| Service Records: |
No |
| Death Notice/Obituary: |
Blaydon Courier, page 8, 24th October 1914.
Blaydon Courier, 24th July 1915.
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| Family Details: |
Son of John and Ann Armstrong of 6 Thorp Cottages, Barmoor, Ryton on Tyne, Co. Durham.
Brothers: William, John Thomas, Arthur Gordon and Robert Stanley. Sisters: Annie Huklman, of 6 Beech Terrace, South Moor, Co. Durham. Rachael Burn, of 10 Preston Street, Backworth, Northumberland.
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| Notes : |
James's brother, William Armstrong, was killed in action on 2nd March 1916, whilst serving with the Durham Light Infantry.
James had previously enlisted with the 4th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers (Territorial Force) at Prudhoe on Tyne and had spent a period of training during 1910. He attested into the regular army 3rd April 1913. It seems that he left Emma Colliery around 1912 as a result of a breach of colliery rules. When he wanted to enlist in the Durham Light Infantry the commanding officer requested that references be sought from professional people. The manager of Emma Colliery, a Mr Rochester, gave James a good reference saying that he had known James from childhood and that he was a hard working, sober and honest young man. The local Police Constable, a Joseph Maitford of Tweedy's Buildings, Ryton on Tyne, also gave James a positive reference.
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| Sources Used: |
Commonwealth War Graves Debt of Honour Register.
Soldiers Died in the Great War.
Emma Colliery Personnel Records at Durham County Records Office and Tyne and Wear Archives Service.
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