1st Battalion, Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment. Regimental number S/8504.
Early life:
George’s parents were Trueman Armsden and Ann Armsden née Merrill who were married in 1868 with their marriage registered at Bedford in the last quarter of the year.
In the 1881 census they were living at 17, Gravel Lane in Bedford.
George was born on the 21st of June 1890 (as Trueman George Armsden) and his birth was registered at Bedford in the third quarter of that year. He was baptised at St. Paul’s Church in Bedford in 1891.
In the 1891 census they were still living at 17, Gravel Lane in Bedford, meaning that George was probably born at that house. Sadly Gravel lane was demolished many years later and no longer exists, replaced by the Howard Centre.
The family in this census was father Trueman aged 44 and a bricklayer; mother Anne aged 44 and looking after the family home; Joseph aged twenty and a tailor’s apprentice; Rose aged thirteen employed as a general servant. The remaining children of school age were Alfred aged 11; Frederick aged nine; Florence aged six. The two youngest were Victoria aged four and George aged just ten months, who would have been at home with their mother. The children of school age probably attended Harpour Infants and Elementary Schools which were located just the next street along from their house. These are also gone, the site being part of the Howard Centre.
Trueman was found drunk in the parish of St. Paul, Bedford on the 19th of July 1891 and fined 2 shillings and 6 pence plus costs of 2 shillings in default of distress of 7 days imprisonment with hard labour. He was allowed 14 days to pay.
Tragedy hit the family hard when their mother died in the summer of 1895, aged 49. Trueman was left to raise the family alone and it seemed to hit him very hard.
By 1901 George was aged ten and living with foster parents at Bolnhurst near Bedford, about eight miles to the North of Bedford. They were John Bull aged 45, a farmer; and Mary A. Bull aged 38. They were fostering two boys, Charles Starmore aged thirteen and George aged ten.
George’s father Trueman Armsden and the Bedford Workhouse, between 1903 and 1914:
All the other children would had grown up and left home and it seems that Trueman had fallen on very hard times, being admitted at the age of 62 to Bedford Workhouse on the 14th of October 1903 with an infected leg. He spent 27 weeks there until Michaelmas (27th of September 1904) and was readmitted on the 31st of October 1905. At that time he was living at 20, Allhallows Lane and was a jobbing bricklayer. He stated that he was normally able bodied and was a widower and not disabled. He was seeking support because he was destitute and had no earnings. The observations column states that he had deserted his children and left Bedford for a time. He was arrested and sent to prison and on his release, went into the workhouse came out and went in again. He was admitted under a workhouse order on the 11th of November 1905.
In the 1911 census Trueman was an inmate in the Bedford Workhouse aged 69. a former bricklayer. His birthplace was recorded as Westoning in Bedfordshire.
Further records from 1912 show him as an inmate for 183 days until Lady Day, 25th March 1912. We see him in the Workhouse again for 183 days, ending at Michaelmas, 27th of September 1913. He was an inmate for 183 days and was a Bricklayer. By this time he would have been aged 71.
He was again on the indoor list, staying as an inmate for 182 days, ending on Lady Day, which was the 25th of March 1914.
Trueman died aged 79 in 1926, registered in Bedford in the last quarter of that year.
George was also registered with the Workhouse in the 6th of February 1907 as a parish apprentice and became indentured as a Merchant Navy apprentice at Ramsgate on the same date, when he was aged sixteen. He was assigned to James Wood, owner of a fishing smack at Ramsgate. The terms were for four years and four months, with a fee of £5. This was confirmed in the Workhouse register of Apprentice’s Indentures on the 18th of March that year. The indenture was due to expire in 1911, on the 6th of July that year. This would be two weeks after his 20th birthday.
Royal Navy service:
On the 16th of August 1911 George enlisted in the Royal Navy for twelve years service. His occupation was fisherman. He was five feet three inches tall with a 37 inch chest, brown hair, grey eyes and a fair complexion. He had a small scar on his upper lip and on his right arm, a tattoo of a sailing ship and the words: ‘Hands across the sea.’
He served at HMS Pembroke II (a shore barracks at Chatham) from the 16th of August 1911 until the 8th of February 1912 with two assessments of ‘Very Good.’ He had attained the rating of Stoker Second Class and his number was K.12108. He was discharged, possibly invalided out, but no specific reason was given on his record.
George was aged 23 when he married Clara Hornby at Keighley. Their marriage was registered in the town during the third quarter of 1913.
They had a son, Harold T. Armsden, born on the 5th of December 1913 and registered at Keighley in the first quarter of 1914.
War service:
There are no Army service records for George but we know something of his service from other sources. According to the Keighley News he was a Reservist, having joined the 1st Battalion Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent) Regiment. This seems like a very short time from his Royal Navy discharge in February 1912, moving to Keighley, getting married and enlisting in the Army. He was apparently working for the Keighley Corporation Engine Works before he enlisted in the war.
His name appears in ‘Keighley’s Gallant Sons’ of the early volunteers in the war, published as a large list in the Keighley Supplement of the Bradford Daily Telegraph on 5th October 1915.
He is also named in the Keighley Town Clerk’s list of early enlistments as Armsden, George,
Armsden George, 64 Park Place, 3rd Battalion West, one dependant, 8 months old and his wife Clara who was his next of kin.
Both these lists are held in Keighley Library archives.
George was serving with the 1st Battalion West Kent Regiment when he entered France on the 7th of December 1914. The Battalion were already in the front lines at WULVERGHEM and George was probably one of a draft of 236 NCO’s and men who arrived at their billets at DRANOUTRE on the 12th of December. Of these, 100 were sent in the evening with Captain Mills to the WULVERGHEM front lines to act as a Battalion Reserve, whilst the remainder stayed at billets.
He served with the Battalion at St. JAN’S CAPPEL, NEUVE EGLISE, LINDENHOUK.
The Battalion were in billets at BAILLEUL in January 1915, remaining in front line service at WULVERGHEM.
WO-95-1553-2_2. War diary, 1st Battalion, The Royal West Kent Regiment:
5th Division. 13th Brigade.
February 1915.
1/2/15:
The Battalion marched at 12:30 pm. to DRANOUTRE in Brigade Reserve, arriving in billets about 5:30pm The long route via BAILLEUL, LILLE ROAD and NEUVE-EGLISE was taken owing to the passage of other troops through the area.
Those who had proceeded on leave on the 24th of last month returned in the evening.
Second Lieutenant COOPER admitted to hospital.
DRANOUTRE.
2/2/15:
The following officers joined the Battalion from the 3rd Battalion:
Lieutenants C.W. H. TAYLOR, C.M. PATON, P. BRADLEY. Second Lieutenants G.R. DAUBENEY, W. R. COBB.
At 5.15pm the Battalion paraded and marched to the neighbourhood of LINDENHOER where it went with billets for the night in support to the battalions in the firing trenches. [The situation of the companies were as follows, B Company at COOKER’S FARM; A Company at farms just North West of WULVERGHEM; C & D companies being at farms on the LINDENHOEK – NEUVE EGLISE road]
LINDENHOEK
3.2.15:
The battalion after a quiet day in billets, in the evening marched to WULVERGHEM arriving there at 5.45pm and look over the trenches occupied by the 2nd Duke of Wellingtons Regiment. Reliefs were carried out correctly by 8pm.
The trenches taken over were just North of the WULVERGHEM – MESSINES road.
C, B and D Companies were on the firing line in order from the right. A company was in Reserve of D Company provided 1 platoon as garrison of a supporting point about 500 yards in rear of the firing line by right only.
The Queen Victoria Rifles were on our right and the K.O.S.B. on our left. Second Lieutenant POLAND was admitted to hospital.
The night was spent in strengthening the parapet’s of the firing trenches which were dangerously thin & improving traverses. A Company provided carrying parties for rations and trench stores. Captain MOULTON-BARRET joined the battalion.
Rough map of position
NOT TO SCALE
WULVERGHEM.
4.2.15:
The enemy shelled WULVERGHEM during the morning hitting the church twice. our artillery were informed and soon stopped the enemy shelling.
During the day our fire trenches were shelled by enemy light field guns at close range.
The shell had a very low trajectory and knocked the trenches about but inflicted no casualties.
1 man of D company was killed by sniping and was buried in WULVERGHEM at night by the chaple
5.2.15:
During the night the ending snipers were very busy evidently having marked down the supporting point. It appeared as if they had trained a maxim on this place at long range.
No man was hit but work had to be stopped owing to the danger.
At 9.15 am a message was received from D Company that they were being shelled by enemy light field guns. The apparent position of these guns was telephoned down and peat on to N° 122 F. Battery who quickly opened fire and the enemy ceased shelling our trenches. In the evening the battalion was relieved by the Duke of Wellingtons Regiment, the reliefs being complete leg about 8.30 pm when the battalion marched to billets in DRANOUTRE.
Casualties 3 men killed & 4 men wounded. Those killed were buried by the Chaplain in WULVERGHEM.
DRANOUTRE.
6.2.15:
The Battalion was in billets until about 4 pm when it marched out by companies to go into reserve
about LINDENHOEK.
Here companies went into billets in the same farms that were occupied by the battalion on the
2nd instant.
C Company occupied farm just N.W of WULVERGHEM.
D Company occupied COOKERS FARM.
A + B companies & Battalion Head quarters occupied farms on the LINDENHOEK – NEUVE EGLISE road.
In the evening the C.O., Adjutant and officers from A and B Companies inspected the 2nd Line of trenches running North & South just East of LINDENHOEK and during the night working parties from these companies commenced work on repairing these trenches in accordance with orders received during the afternoon.
LINDENHOEK
7.2.15:
After a quiet day in reserve the battalion in the evening took over trenches partly from the 2nd Dukes Regiment and partly from the 2nd K.O.Y.L.I.
C, D, A Companies counting from the right were in the firing line with B Company in reserve,
The night was dark with frequent showers making the reliefs very slow. The enemy snipers were very active.
The trenches taken over by the battalion were situated about 1000 yards West of WULVERGHEM, that occupied by A Company on the lift being particularly wet and within 50 yards of the enemy.
Rough Sketch.
WULVERGHEM.
8.2.15:
There was a lot of sniping by the enemy during the night, Captain P.T. MILLS being shot in the head, dying about 6 hours later.
Lieutenant BROWN went out scouting endeavouring to locate a sap the enemy were reported to be digging between the trenches occupied by D and A companies. He brought in useful information which pointed to the fact that this reported sap did not exist as he found a trench evidently dug as a drain about the place when the reported sap should have been.
Captain PERCY TREVENEN MILLS’ body was brought down from the trenches after dark and taken into DRANOUTRE for interment in the church yard there.
Casualties other than Captain MILLS were 3 men wounded.
In the evening orders were received with references to the reliefs to be carried out tomorrow.
Second Lieutenant WILD, Sergeant Major BROWN and 61 rank & file joined the battalion.
DRANOUTRE.
9.11.15:
After a fine day the battalion was relieved by the 1st Cheshire Regiment. The relieving battalion owing to being, delayed on the road by another unit’s transport did not arrive until 8.30 pm.
The reliefs were completed by 10-15 pm from when companies marched to billets at BAILLEUL [Via DRANOUTRE having tea from the cookers at LINDENHOEK on the way.]
Casualties today were 3 men killed & 3 wounded. The dead were brought down to the dressing station and buried by the chaplain of the 15th Field ambulance.
Major ROBINSON & 2nd Lieutenant WALKER proceeded on 8 days leave to England. Captain BUCHANAN – DUNLOP taking over temporary command of the battalion.
BAILLEUL.
10.2.15:
Visited by Major General MORLAND commanding 5th Division. Brigadier General R. WANLESS-O’GOWAN came to see us. A quiet day was passed in billets mostly employed in cleaning up after the trenches.
The battalion was under orders to be ready to move at “reasonably short notice” as part of Army Reserve. Nothing of importance happened.
—
The 1st Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment’s War Diary tells that snipers were particularly active. One officer was reported killed, dying six hours after being shot. Three (possibly four) ‘other ranks’ were reported wounded on the 10th February. Private George Armsden may have been one of these men.
It’s likely he was wounded by sniper fire on 10th February and then evacuated to a casualty clearing station at Bailleul as his wound was serious. Royal Army Medical Corps Casualty Clearing Stations which were located at Bailleul during this period were the 2nd C.C.S. – August 1914 to September 1917 and the 8th C.C.S. January 1915 to March 1917.
He was buried in grave 10 of row H in Bailleul Communal Cemetery, Nord.
Keighley News, 27th of February 1915, page 3:
ANOTHER KEIGHLEY SOLDIER DIES FROM WOUNDS.
On Thursday Mrs. George Armsden, of 64, Park Place, Keighley, received information of the death, from wounds, of her husband, a private in the 1st West Kent Regiment. Private Armsden was a Reservist, and was called up when war broke out. He previously served in the Royal Navy, and on mobilisation was employed at the Keighley Corporation Electricity Works.
Remembrance:
George is named on his headstone at grave number 10 in row H of Bailleul Communal Cemetery.
Locally, he is named in the Borough of Keighley 1914 – 1918 Great War roll of honour book at Keighley Library.
Keighley News 12th February 1916:
IN MEMORIAM.
ARMSDEN. In affectionate remembrance of Private George Armsden, 1st Royal West Kents; died of wounds received in action on February 10th, 1915, aged 25 years.
Then on the field of battle
He calmly took his place;
He fought and died for Britain,
And the honour of his race,
-From his Wife and Family.
Post war:
His widow Clara was his next of kin and would have received his personal effects. She was sent his outstanding Army pay amounting to 8 shillings and 5 pence on the 5th of August 1915. She later received a war gratuity payment of £3 on the 12th of July 1919.
Clara applied for and received an Army Dependant’s pension for herself and their son Harold Truman Armsden. Harold’s was to be paid to him up to his 16th Birthday which would be on the 5th of December 1929.
She would also have received his medals which were the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal along with a bronze war memorial plaque and memorial scroll inscribed with his name. All of these usually arrived between 1920 and 1921.
Remarriage:
Clara remarried, to George Davies on the 30th of December 1916. Their wedding was at Holy Trinity Church off Lawkholme Lane. Clara was a widow aged 30 and living at 13, Dove Street. George was a bachelor aged 22 and employed as a fitter, living at 8, Rupert Street in Keighley.
She received a marriage gratuity of £52 as her Dependant’s pension would come to an end at that point. There were costs of £4 13s 0d, so she actually received a payment of £47 1s 3d. He son Harold’s pension amount was still paid to Clara on his behalf, up to his 16th birthday.
In the 1921 census, Clara and George Davies were living at 13, Parson Street in Keighley. They had a son George Ernest Davies, born in 1918 and aged three in this census. George was aged 27 and employed as a machine tool fitter by Hall and Stells at Park Works in Keighley. Clara was on home duties, looking after young George.
George and Clara Armsden’s son Harold Truman Armsden, had been adopted by Ernest and Lizzie Ramsbottom. This was still within the family, as Lizzie was Clara’s older sister.
In the 1921 census Harold was aged seven and living at 14, John Street in Crossflatts, Bingley and was attending school whole time.
His father Ernest was aged 31 and a boiler stoker for the West Riding County Council at The Training College, Bingley; Lizzie was aged 30 and a cotton weaver for Myer’s and Robinsons cotton manufacturers at Castlefield Mills in Bingley. Also living here in the census were Lizzie’s father James Hornby, a widower aged 56 employed as a carter for Keighley Corporation Health Department at Lawkholme Lane in Keighley and Lizzie’s Aunt Mary Hornby, aged 60, single and on home duties.
Harold married Margaret Taylor on the 20th of April 1935 at Keighley Parish Church. Harold was aged 21 and a bachelor working as a wool comb driller and living at 2. Thrush Street, Eastwood. Margaret was aged 19 and a spinster working as a laundry worker and living at 23, Paget Street in Keighley.
In the 1939 register they were living at 23 Paget Street in Keighley, with Arthur H. Taylor aged 45 and a crane fitter and electrician (heavy work)and his wife Kate C. Taylor aged 46 and on unpaid domestic duties.
Harold was aged 26 and a wool comb filler driller. Margaret was aged 23 and a housewife. They had a son, Kenneth aged three who was at home, being below school age.
In the 1939 register, Clara Davies was aged 47 and on unpaid domestic duties. She was living at 19, Grouse Street in Keighley with her husband George aged 45, a machine tool fitter; children George Ernest aged 22, a textile machine fitter and Betty aged 11 and at school. Betty later married and became Betty Root.
Clara died in 1976 at the age of 84, registered in Keighley in the second quarter of the year.
Harold died in 2004 aged 90, registered in Keighley in July of that year.
Information sources:
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915
1881 England Census
England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915.
England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975.
1891 Census.
England & Wales, FreeBMD Death Index, 1837-1915.
1901 England Census.
Apprentices Indentured in Merchant Navy, 1824-1910.
Bedfordshire, England, Workhouse and Poor Law Records, 1835-1914.
Father in workhouse (not George – probably in Royal Navy).
1911 England Census.
Royal Navy Registers of Seamen’s Services, 1900-1928.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915.
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935.
WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Soldiers died in the Great War.
National Archives. WWI War Diaries (France, Belgium and Germany), 1914-1920.
WO-95-1553-2_2. War Diary 1st The Royal West Kent Regiment.
Bailleul Communal Cemetery.
Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929.
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005.
1921 Census Of England & Wales.
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1813-1935.
1939 England and Wales Register.
England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007.
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007.
