Six: Lieutenant-Colonel C. A. Armstrong, Northumberland Fusiliers, killed in action in the Battle of Loos, 1 October 1915, whilst commanding the 2nd Battalion

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Transvaal (Capt: C. A. Armstrong, North’d Fus:); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps (Maj. C. A. Armstrong. Nthld. Fus.); 1914-15 Star (Major C. A. Armstrong North’d Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (Lt. Col. C. A. Armstrong); France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver, gilt, and enamels, in Arthus Bertrand, Paris, case of issue, with note that it was conferred by President Courbet at Dover in 1910, the first two mounted as worn together with the related pair of mounted miniatures, the former being with 4 clasps including ‘Orange Free State’, extremely fine (8) £800-1200

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, December 2005.

Charles Arthur Armstrong was born in London on 5 May 1873, the only son of Major-General Charles Armstrong, Bengal Staff Corps. He was educated at Sherborne School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst (Hon. Queen’s India Cadet), and was gazetted Second Lieutenant to the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers on 10 October 1894. He was promoted Lieutenant in December 1895; Captain in May 1900; and Brevet Major in Lord Kitchener’s Despatch of 8 April 1902. He served throughout the South African War 1899-1902; took part in the battles of Belmont, Enslin, Modder River, Magersfontein; was Commandant at Kraipan from 27 February 1901, and Adjutant, 5th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry (16th (Worcestershire) Company), June 1901 to May 1902; he took part in the operations in the Transvaal, February 1901 to May 1902.
On 24 February 1902, a convoy commanded by Lt-Col W.C. Anderson heading for Klerksdorp, bivouacked on the farm Elandslaagte by the Yzer Spruit. Early the following morning the column set off and after a march of some three kilometres was attacked by a commando under the command of Asst. Cmdt-Gen. J.H. de la Rey. After very strong resistance, the convoy was forced to surrender. British losses were 187 killed and wounded whilst the Boers lost 51 killed and wounded. Major Armstrong was reported missing on 25 February 1902 at Elandslaagte and later re-joined. For his services in the Boer War he was Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 17 June 1902).

Returning to England, at St. Paul’s, Knightsbridge, in November 1902, Armstrong married Evelyn Denison, daughter of the late Major General Charles Richards, Indian Army. He was then transferred to the 2nd Battalion, with which he served until October 1913, when he was appointed Adjutant of the Officers’ Training Corps, Queen’s University Belfast (attached General Staff), a post he held until the outbreak of war. Confirmed in the rank of Major on 14 October 1914, he was then appointed to train the 8th Service Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers. He was appointed to the command of the 2nd Battalion in June 1915, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, and immediately went out to France. After being at the front for four months, Lieutenant-Colonel Armstrong was fatally shot in the head at the battle of Loos, 1 October 1915, and is buried in the British Cemetery at Vermelles. He is also commemorated in the Sherborne School Roll of Honour and War Memorial.

The Fifth in the Great War refers:
“Dawn was just breaking, the relief was hurried through, and a party of the relieved troops (1/York & Lancs.), impatient to get back, instead of moving by communication trenches, rashly withdrew across the open. This movement, undoubtedly, was observed by the enemy, to whom it gave the clue to what was in progress. Before the relief had been fully completed, and while the men of the FIFTH were still in process of taking up their positions, the Germans, approaching unseen by South Face, suddenly attacked with bombs. The inner flanks of both "C" and "D" Companies were driven back, and the enemy secured a footing of about one hundred yards in the Hohenzollern and "Big Willie." Further progress of the enemy was checked and a barrier was constructed by each company to protect its flank and contain the enemy; but they found themselves completely separated. On report of the situation reaching Brigade Headquarters, orders were issued that the enemy was to be driven from the position at all costs; but though it was simple enough to issue such orders, the manner in which they should be carried out was quite a different matter. Major Armstrong had gone forward to the scene of the trouble before the orders from the Brigade had reached his headquarters, with the intention of organising a counter-attack, the necessity for which was, in truth, quite obvious. But to form any plan without more accurate knowledge of the general situation than could be obtained from the bottom of a trench was impossible. In order to secure a view of his surroundings, he raised himself above the parapet and was immediately shot through the head and killed. On news of this tragic event reaching Battalion Headquarters, Captain Lamb, to whom command now fell, went forward with 2nd Lieutenant Gilchrist, the Adjutant, to " D " Company's position. He found that already many casualties had been sustained; bombing and counter-bombing were in progress; and considerable confusion reigned in the trench. Any attempt to attack across the open would have been swept away by the fire of machine guns from the enemy's rear positions, and the only hope of dislodging the Germans lay in bombing them from the section of trench in which they had secured a footing.”

“During the short time he (Armstrong) was in command of the 2nd Battalion he gained the highest praise and admiration of all, and numerous letters received by his widow tell how much he was beloved, and "that his most excellent work had been appreciated and noted for due reward and promotion, had he but lived through the Battle of Loos." (Roll of Honour, Marquis de Ruvigny refers).