Introduction

In 2014 the centenary of the outbreak of World War One, Cumnock History Group began researching the names on the Cumnock War Memorial plus other men and women with Cumnock connections mentioned on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission or in the Cumnock Chronicle of the time. The research is not limited to those who died but also to men and women who served, using family history information.

The group would like to appeal to individuals with knowledge of family members for photographs of the soldier, either in uniform or not, and photos of medals or other memorabilia eg letters sent home from the Front. If you would be prepared to share these on this site, please email the web manager info@cumnockhistorygroup.org The group is willing to share any copies of documents found with the soldier's descendants.

Friday 5 September 2014

Thomas Armstrong

There is a Memorial Inscription (#150) in Cumnock new cemetery:
Thomas Armstrong killed at Kemmel, Belgium 31 Jan 1916 aged 25 son of Robert Armstrong and Margaret Hunter.

Since he wasn't on Cumnock War Memorial I had to look him up.

Here he is on the CWGC
Rank:
Sergeant
Service No:
73744
Date of Death:
31/01/1916
Age:
25
Regiment/Service:
Canadian Infantry
 
28th Bn.
Grave Reference:
K. 82.
Cemetery:
KEMMEL CHATEAU MILITARY CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Robert and Margaret Hunter Armstrong, of Chapel, Moffat, Dumfriesshire, Scotland.

His Canadian enlistment papers tell us that
He enlisted 24 Oct 1914 at Regina, Saskatchewan
He was a carpenter, born 19 Feb 1890
His next of kin was his mother Margaret at 88 Ayr Road, Cumnock

Canadian casualty report


Cumnock Connections tree


He was the youngest son of Robert Armstrong and Margaret Hunter who married in Penpont in 1866.
Robert was a shepherd, then a dairyman and in 1901 a farmer at Wallacetown Farm Auchinleck

Their son George previously served in the Imperial Yeomanry and died in hospital in Aldershot in 1901 aged 19.

Another son William also served in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He died in Vancouver in 1948.
Canadian papers

Thomas Armstrong is not on the War Memorials of Auchinleck, Cumnock, Lugar or Moffat so I am especially pleased to honour his memory here.

Here's the family headstone in Cumnock New Cemetery.
Photo by Morag Gordon Aug 2015

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