Miscellaneous documents
Reference: D/X 1730 Catalogue Title: Miscellaneous documents Area: Catalogue Category: Other Records Description: Private Arthur Armstrong of Crook; John Toal of Hedleyhope
Covering Dates: 1882-1916
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Letter relating to Private Arthur Armstrong, 18 DLI , service no. 18/212
Arthur Armstrong was a Private in 18 DLI. He was 26 when he died on 29 March 1916 near Bertrancourt village in the Somme District, France. He left his parents, John and Mary, living at 23 High Grey Street in Crook.
The letter was written by his friend, Stephen, who tried to explain to Arthur' s parents the circumstances of their son's death. The battalion was spending Easter weekend in trenches near that village. According to his description, Arthur died suddenly from a bomb explosion about 8.30 in the morning and was laid in the nearby village church and buried in the evening together with others who had fallen on that day.
Stephen with two other friends, W. Dodd of Ryhope and B. Wilkinson of South Shields worked a DLI badge in white stone to decorate his grave. Wilkinson also made a cross, which they put at the foot of the grave as an Army one was already erected at the head.
Arthur Armstrong was buried in Bertrancourt Military Cemetery in grave number 8, plot 1, row A.
In the 1891 census John and his wife and 3 children lived at 7 Hedley Hope Terrace, Hedley Hope.
Ref: D/X 1730/2
