Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War C.M.G., D.S.O. group of eight awarded to Brigadier-General Sir G. A. Armytage, Bart., King’s Royal Rifle Corps

Baronet’s Badge, of Great Britain, silver-gilt and enamels, the reverse hallmarked London 1929 and inscribed ‘Armytage of Kirklees 1738’; The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, C.M.G., Companion’s neck badge, silver-gilt and enamels; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R.; 1914 Star, with clasp (Major G. A. Armytage, K.R. Rif. C.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaf (Brig-Gen. Sir G. A. Armytage, Bt.); Defence Medal; French Croix de Guerre 1914-1917, the last six mounted court style as worn, the second with some chipping to both centres, otherwise nearly extremely fine (8) £2000-2500

D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1917.

M.I.D. London Gazette 1 January 1916, 4 January 1917, 11 December 1917, 20 December 1918 and 5 July 1919.

George Ayscough Armytage was born in 1872 and educated at Harrow. He was posted to the 4th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, on 2 June 1894. Of powerful physique, he took up gymnastics and became superintendent of gymnasia at Glasgow. In May 1903 he was posted as Adjutant to the Rifle Depot. After this appointment he joined the 1st Battalion of the regiment in Egypt in 1906, serving in Khartoum and Cairo, and when the battalion came home, at Gosport and Aldershot. Mobilised at Aldershot in August 1914, he served with the 1st Battalion in the 6th Brigade of the 2nd Division. Serving with him was Prince Maurice of Battenberg who, at the crossing of the Aisne in 1914, was the first across the bridge by which the battalion had to pass under heavy fire, and when Major Armytage led the line forward in a splendid charge he was in the thick of the fray. ‘His name and that of Major Armytage were on every man’s lips in the battalion.’ This incident was recorded by Corporal Jolley in his diary:

‘Prince Maurice of Battenberg was the first man over, searching the house beyond, all by himself. This was a brave act for an officer alone. This company removed the blockage, and the battalion got across without a shot being fired. The word was passed back that we were going to charge, and the remainder of the brigade ceased fire and watched with interest the charge. Every man was anxious to do his best, and the officer, Major Armytage, gave the order “Charge!” This was commenced, but - the cowards I call them - when we got within about twenty yards they threw down their rifles and held up their hands. Major Armytage ran out in front, shouting “Halt! They have surrendered!” Our blood boiled, for they had no mercy for us when they foully fired after showing the white flag. But orders are orders. We advanced to the trenches fifty yards away, and ordered the German officers, seven of them, to bring their men out. This they did, the Germans coming and looking and feeling our bayonets, and said they could not make it out how we got our bullets out so quick. During this time we made ourselves busy, taking the helmets, bayonets and other curios in remembrance of this day. We had a look at the trenches. These were an awful sight, for they were filled with dead. Some had been pushed out to make room for the living, and for cover, too. The prisoners were counted, and the number was seven officers and 511 men. These, they told us, were what were left of two Jarger regiments, the estimate of the dead being over 800.’

George Armytage took part in much very hard fighting in 1914 and 1915, and assumed command of the 1st Battalion on 18 May 1915, when Geoffrey Shakerley was killed in the Festubert battle. He continued to command the battalion for a year of arduous and exhausting trench warfare and then was appointed to command the 74th Brigade in April 1916. Before handing over command, General Horne, commanding the IV Army, had written him a most congratulatory letter, and General Sir Charles Munro also in April highly commended the work of the battalion. He later commanded the 117th Brigade in the 39th Division. Never wounded and keeping hard and in good health, George Armytage saw much heavy fighting throughout the war. For his war services he received the D.S.O. (1917) and C.M.G. (1918), with 5 mentions in despatches and the French Croix de Guerre.

After demobilisation he commanded the post war 1st Battalion from December 1919 to May 1920, when he was given command of the 2nd West Riding Infantry Brigade T.A. In 1918 he had succeeded to the family eastates at Kirklees Park, Yorkshire, which his family had owned since 1565. He died on 15 August 1953.