ARMSTRONG, Henry James
| Service Number: | 2787 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 30 June 1915, Melbourne, Vic. |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 14th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Carlton, Victoria, Australia, 1881 |
| Home Town: | Carlton, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Pomborneit State School No.1031 |
| Occupation: | Draper |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 9 August 1916 |
| Cemetery: |
Serre Road Cemetery No.2 Beaumont Hamel, France XXIII C 15 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Pomborneit State School No. 1031 Memorial Gates |
World War 1 Service
| 30 Jun 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2787, 14th Infantry Battalion, Melbourne, Vic. | |
|---|---|---|
| 27 Sep 1915: | Involvement Private, 2787, 14th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '11' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 27 Sep 1915: | Embarked Private, 2787, 14th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne | |
| 9 Aug 1916: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 2787, 14th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 2787 awm_unit: 14 Battalion awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1916-08-09 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of James and Caroline Armstrong, of 21, Eltham St., Newmarket, Victoria.
Word was received in Camperdown on Saturday of the death in action on August 9, of Private Henry James Armstrong, late of Pomborneit, son of Mr James Armstrong, of Melbourne. On receipt of the sad news flags were flown at half-mast in Camperdown and Pomborneit, in respect to the memory of the deceased soldier. He was about 33 years of age and enlisted in Melbourne in May, 1915. He sailed from Australia on September 29 last for Egypt, with the 14th Battalion, to which he was attached and in the land of the Sphinx was stationed in various places on important duty. Subsequently he went to France and was one of the few chosen from the 4th Division, for their intrepidity, to raid the German trenches at night time. The late Private Armstrong, who had prior to joining the, colors been attached to the staff of the Bacchus Marsh Factory at Pomborneit, for a period of four years, regularly, corresponded with the manager there (Mr Purbrick) and in one of his letters the deceased soldier described one of these night raids. He wrote: "I think I told you that, in a card previously forwarded, we had a jaunt over to the German trenches a few days ago, and after going through that I consider myself a decent fighter. A party of us got out and across to the German trenches, but got hung up by barbed wire just as we got there. At last we got over and had a look through the enemy's trenches and after bombing the German out, started back. I spent 4½ hours in 'No Man's Land' on the way back with two wounded men, whom I was able to bring back safely." This incident is worthy of mention, as since that time a letter received from Private R. F. McGarvie states that in this raid the late Private Armstrong conducted himself with the greatest gallantry, and. Private McGarvie stated, as sure to be mention ed in despatches for his bravery. In Pomborneit Private Armstrong was well known and a general favorite. He was possessed of many admirable qualities that endeared him to his friends and make his loss the more keenly felt. He took an active part in all matters tending for the progress of the community and was a true sportsman in every respect. He was a keen tennis player, a first-class cricketer and for a season filled the office secretary to the Pomborneit Football Club.
Widespread sympathy is felt at Private Armstrong's untimely end, for in every way he was an estimable man and as a soldier he conducted him self in gallant fashion.