202831 Pte Edwin Armitage, 1/4th Loyal North Lancs.
A resident of 91 Rectory Road, Burnley, Edwin initially enlisted, at the age of 21 years and 10 months, on 23 February 1916 into the 5th Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment. A ‘Skip Weigher' by trade, he arrived in France on 7 August 1916 and, after nine days at 25 Infantry Base Depot at Etaples was sent to join B Company of the 1/4th Loyal North Lancs on 17 August. He was admitted to the 2/1st West Lancashire Field Ambulance (‘sick') on several occasions (October 1916, July 1917) during his service and was posted as ‘missing' on 18 November 1917 after his battalion had entered the line in the Gillemont Farm Sector (near St Quentin).
At 5.30 on the morning of 18 November the Germans opened a hurricane bombardment of the Gillemont Farm sector. Out of some 80 officers and men occupying the twelve advance posts, only half a dozen remained, most being killed or buried under the bombardment. Edwin was one of the missing of the day, being reported as ‘now killed' on 27 November. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
18 November 1917
Research by David O'Mara, Croonaert Research Services.
