Lieutenant Herbert Joseph Armstrong October 1881-March 1958

Captain H J Armstrong, 18th (Pioneer) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers 1915-1919

Herbert Joseph Armstrong was born in October 1881 in Newcastle. In 1909 he married Edith Bell and they had two children, the first of which died in infancy. He joined the Northumberland Fusiliers and served in the 18th (Pioneer) Battalion o/c No 9 plattoon "C" Company, promoted to Captain in September 1916.. Throughout WW1 the 18th Battalion served as a pioneer battalion. This involved the construction and maintenance of trenches, dugouts, railways and roads, laying barbed wire and also ensuring front line battalions where kept supplied with water, food and ammunition during offensives. These duties where often carried out under enemy fire and the Battalion was regularly required to reinforce regular infantry battalions in the front line. The 18th Battalion saw service in the following areas,

1916

Armentieres, La Boiselle (Somme), Bienvilliers, Martinpuich.

1917

Arras, Rouex, Ypres, Cambrai.

1918

Boyelles, Nieppe, Bailleul, Poperinghe.

 

In March 1918 he became involved with the Navy and Army Canteen board (forerunner of the NAAFI) He eventually relinquished his commision due to ill health in April 1919. He was a Chartered Acountant by profession and in May 1926 was elected Honorary Auditor of the Newcastle Aero Club. He volunteered for service in the Home Guard during WW2 and was a Lieutenant in the 12th Northumberland, Newcastle East Battalion. In 1941 he lived at No 1 Glastonbury Grove, Jesmond. He died in March 1958.

 

Information and photograph kindly supplied by Miss Rosemary Armstrong.

If you have any information on Herbert Joseph Armstrong or anyone who served in the Northumberland Home Guard, Newcastle Battalions please contact ph@ccoynblhomeguard.co.uk