Joseph's Story.
During the First World War, the village of Lijssenthoek was situated on the main communication line between the Allied military bases in the rear, and the Ypres battlefields close to the Front, but out of the extreme range of most German field artillery; it became a natural place to establish casualty clearing stations.
Joseph was the son of William and Annie Armitage of Coppice Cottage, the Coppice, Poynton. He had 2 sisters Elizabeth, Florence, and an elder brother William.
Before enlisting in Stockport, Joseph was a joiner at Claytons, contractors, and builders of Poynton. He was educated at Poynton church school.
Joseph attested into the Royal Engineers on the 11th of December, 1915. He was 23 years of age. On the 7th of February, 1916, he was mobilised and joined D Company, Northern Reserve Battalion, Royal Engineers based at Brompton Barracks Chatham, Kent. After a period of training, he was posted to France, landing at Rouen on the 25th of July. He was in the field by the 4th of August 1916. serving in the 95th Field Company, Royal Engineers. They were attached to the 7th Division X Corps 2nd Army.
Field companies were the general engineering support for the infantry, comprising of 3 Companies per Division. There were usually 2 Companies in the line maintaining and developing the trench system with 1 Company in the rear working on hut building, water supplies, laundries, baths, and numerous other jobs.
Between the 15th and 25th of September 1917, the 95th Field Company were billeted at the village of Cormette. The Division moved up to the front on the 26th of September. The plan was to be known as the ‘Battle of Polygon Wood’. The main thrust would be made by the 1st Anzac Corps. On their right would be X Corps, who would be attacking either side and along the Menin Road.
Sometime on the 29th/30th of September Joseph was hit, resulting in shrapnel wounds to his head, buttock, and stomach. He was taken to the 2nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station based at Remy Sidings in a serious condition. A medical officer writing the Canadian war diary of the 29th/30th gives us an idea of the conditions the troops were suffering at the time.
“Another terrific bombing raid between here and Poperinge.The planes were picked up by search lights and fled after dropping bombs. Most of the casualties admitted are from the surrounding camps.
A beautiful moonlit night and the air is alive with enemy aeroplanes which are dropping bombs all over the area. The angry hum of their machines can be heard in the depths of the sky.
One Wails with a feeling of utter helplessness of the crash of bombs and draws a sigh of relief when the sound of the machines recedes. Poperinge seems to be the centre of the attack, no such raid has ever occurred in this area before.
9.15 began admitting. The victims of the bomb raids are beginning to arrive, they are the worst mangled casualties one can imagine. Several have already died others will soon follow.
10.40 completed admitting (110 lying and 81 sitting = 191) of these 96 were bomb casualties. The resuscitation ward is overflowing. And such a mangled mass of humanity I have seldom if ever seen.”
The bombing raids continued throughout the night into the early morning of the 30th, supported by a very heavy German bombardment. A further 225 casualties were admitted. Joseph succumbed to his wounds on the 1st of October.
Admissions for Remy Sidings, September 1917. Officers 210. Other ranks 5530. 75% were during the last 2 weeks.
Joseph Armitage's inscription on his headstone says “The dearly loved son of William and Annie Armitage of Poynton Cheshire Thy will be done .”
Cheshire County Memorial Project would like to thank Phil Underwood for compiling this page on Joseph