LOTHAIR ARMITAGE

Private No. 3/1532, 1st Battalion King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry

Died 2nd March 1915 aged 25

Buried Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France

Son of Robert John and Edith Burnley Armitage

Lived 4, Lobley Street, Heckmondwike
 

Lothair enrolled in the KOYLI at Dewsbury.

He is recorded on the 1911 census as being a Milk Vendor, born in Heckmondwike in 1889, the second son of Robert John Armitage, a Warehouseman, and Edith Burnley Firth who had married at Birstall Parish Church on August 9th 1884.  His father then died before Lothair’s first birthday, so he lived at first with his mother and older siblings Harold and Mabel in Kaye Street, Heckmondwike.

By 1901 he had moved in with his Uncles at High Street, and attended the Heckmondwike Higher Grade school, now known as Heckmondwike Grammar School.  By the time of the 1911 census, the men are listed as living at 4, Lobley Street, and his mother is nearby in Kaye Street with her daughters.  Lothair was brought up with his uncles, his Grandfather having been a Chapel Keeper, Lothair attended the Upper Independent Chapel and his photograph has come from their collection.  In the publication "Heckmondwike at War" by Louis Ackroyd, it is recorded that "Pte Lothair Armitage, 1st KOYLI, a regular soldier and Upper Chapel member living in Lobley Street, suffered head wounds in early February and died in hospital at Boulogne on 2nd March 1915 aged 25."

He is buried at Boulogne Eastern Cemetery.

A service was held at Heckmondwike Parish Church on the first anniversary of the outbreak of the Great War and Lothair’s relatives were invited along with the other seven Heckmondwike men remembered.

Locally commemorated on the Green Park Memorial, Roll of Honour, the Upper Independent Chapel Memorial and Roll of Honour, Heckmondwike Grammar School Plaque. Medals awarded:-  British War Medal and the Victory Medal.{KH-006}

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