Private Andrew Armstrong

 

Andrew Armstrong was born on 19 January 1873 at Feddans, Irvinestown, County Fermanagh, the third of five children of farmer John Armstrong and his wife Eliza Jane (née Woods). At the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Feddans with his widowed step-mother and three step-brothers, and working on the family farm.

Armstrong enlisted in the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron between 13 and 19 October 1914 (No. UD/28 – later Corps of Dragoons number 21219). The squadron, which had been formed as divisional cavalry for the 36th (Ulster) Division, embarked for France on 6 October 1915. A party of about thirty men of the squadron, including Armstrong, had embarked three days earlier, attached to 36th Division Headquarters – many if not all of them serving as batmen to senior officers.

In June 1916 the Inniskilling squadron joined C and F Squadrons of the North Irish Horse to form the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment, serving as corps cavalry to X Corps until August 1917.

It is probable, however, that prior to August 1917 Armstrong returned to the UK due to sickness or injury, spending the remainder of the war at the squadron's reserve camp at Enniskillen. On 27 February 1919 he was demobilised and transferred to Class Z, Army Reserve.

Following his demobilisation Armstrong returned to Feddans, working as a labourer there and at nearby Crillan. On 2 December 1919 he married Medea Armstrong in the Church of Ireland Church in Tubrid.

 

This page last updated 30 January 2023.