William Armstrong (1904 - 1942)

Biography

William Armstrong was born on 27th April 1904 in Darlington, Co Durham, England. He was the eldest child of Frederick Armstrong and Beatrice Scott. ^[1]

In 1911, William was at home with his parents and siblings in 7 Trafalgar Terrace Darlington. ^[2]

• Frederick Armstrong Head Married Male 29 1882 Forge helper labourer Gateshead Durham
• Beatrice Lilian Armstrong Wife Married Female 28 1883 - Ripon Yorks
• William Armstrong Son Single Male 6 1905 - Darlington Duirham
• Olive Armstrong Daughter - Female 4 1907 - Darlington Duirham
• Frederick Armstrong Son - Male 1 1910 - Darlington Durham

He completed an apprenticeship, qualifying as a fitter and turner.

Ten years later in 1921, William was still living at home at 24 Rosebery Street, Darlington. ^[3]

• Frederick Q Armstrong Head Male 1881 39 Gateshead, Durham, England Furnaceman Ner Works
• Beatrice L Armstrong Wife Female 1881 39 Ripon, Yorkshire, England Home Duties -
• William Armstrong Son Male 1904 17 Darlington, Durham, England Apprentice Fitter Per Works
• Olive Armstrong Daughter Female 1906 14 Darlington, Durham, England - -
• Frederick Armstrong Son Male 1910 10 Darlington, Durham, England - -
• Thomas J Armstrong Son Male 1913 7 Darlington, Durham, England - -
• George E Armstrong Son Male 1918 2 Darlington, Durham, England - -

He migrated to Victoria, Australia.

William married Robina Weirsmith in 1929 in Victoria. ^[4] They made their home in Gordon Street, West Coburg. The couple had two children: Joy and Fred.

William joined the Commonwealth Military Force (Militia) on 6th December 1938 as a Private (46988). He was allocated to the Australian Army Ordnance Corps and posted to the 4th Field Workshop Company (from December 1942 Workshop Companies became part of the newly-raised Australian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers). He was 5 ft 8 in tall, with black hair and brown eyes. ^[5]

He was promoted Corporal on 5th December 1939 and Sergeant on 12th February 1940. He was mobilised for active service (V85801) on 24th Jun 1940 and posted to the 3rd Military District Ordnance Workshops in Caulfield. ^[6][7]

His meteoric rise through the ranks continued on 13th September 1940 when he was promoted Staff Sergeant. He was transferred to the Royal Australian Artillery Command at Queenscliff, Victoria on 14th March 1941 and sailed for New Britain, in the Territory of New Guinea, on 17th April 1941 as part of Lark Force. He disembarked in Rabaul on 26th April 1941. When the Japanese invaded New Britain in January 1942 he was captured at Kokopo Hospital, so possibly wounded earlier. He became a Prisoner of War and was initially held in Rabaul. His Mobilization Attestation Form bears an entry indicating that he was transferred to the Second Australian Imperial Force on 22nd January 1942. ^[6]

William died on board the "Montevideo Maru" when it was torpedoed and sunk off the coast of the Philippines on 1st July 1942 en route from Rabaul to Hainan where he was destined for forced labour. William Armstrong's name is located at panel 21 in the Commemorative Area at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra and at the Rabaul Memorial, East New Britain. ^[8]

The Age, Melbourne, carried a death notice on 10th October 1945: ^[9]

"ARMSTRONG. — V85,801, presumed died on July 1, 1942, S.-Sgt. William, loved husband of Robina, and father of Joy (deceased), and Fred, 16 Gordon-street, West Coburg; also a tribute to his gallant comrades of L Force, Rabaul. Duty nobly done."

Sources

1. ↑ Birth - UK GRO BDM Birth index - ARMSTRONG, WILLIAM; SCOTT; GRO Reference: 1904 J Quarter in DARLINGTON; Volume 10A Page 35
2. ↑ 1911 Census - England and Wales from The National Archives at Kew, Surrey citing RG14PN29514 RG78PN1715 RD543 SD2 ED11 SN114
3. ↑ 1921 Census - England and Wales from The National Archives at Kew, Surrey citing RG15/24251 RD 543 RS 2 ED 39
4. ↑ Victoria Marriage Index #1967/1929
5. ↑ Australian Army (Militia) Service record - National Archives of Australia - Armstrong, William; Army Number - 46988; Date of birth - 24 April 1904
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Australian Army Service record - National Archives of Australia - ARMSTRONG WILLIAM : Service Number - VX129416 : Date of Birth - 27 Apr 1904 : Place of Birth - DARLINGTON ENGLAND : Place of Enlistment - CAULFIELD VIC : Next of Kin - ARMSTRONG ROBINA
7. ↑ Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: VX129416 Staff Sergeant William Armstrong; accessed 28 Feb 2023
8. ↑ Australian War Memorial roll of honour: VX129416 Staff Sergeant William Armstrong; accessed 28 Feb 2023
9. ↑ Death Notice - Family Notices (1945, October 10). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 8. Retrieved September 25, 2019

See also:

• Virtual War Memorial Australia: https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/618406