Armes, George
No.569A – Private George Arthur Armes – 28th Battalion AIF
George Arthur Armes was born in Middlesborough, Yorkshire, England in 1883 to Isaac & Alice Armes. After attending St Paul’s School in Middlesborough George took up training to become an engineer. Prior to leaving England for Australia, he married his sweetheart Lillian. They arrived in Fremantle in 1913 and took up residence in the Port City. George & Lillian resided at 18 Alexander Road South Fremantle, (later renamed Wray Avenue) with his Aunt, a Mrs. Appleton. George soon found work as a storekeeper.
He enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force in Perth on the 10th January 1916. He was medically examined and passed as fit by the medical officer. He was found to be 5 feet 5 inches in height; weighing 112 lbs; chest measurement of 33 – 35 inches; fresh complexion; blue eyes and black hair. His religious denomination was Church of England. Sent to Claremont Camp, George was taken on strength of B Company of the 44th Battalion AIF. This battalion was part of the newly forming 3rd Division AIF and George would spend the next few months training with his unit in WA.
On the 6th June 1916 the 44th Battalion departed Fremantle aboard the “Suevic” amid a tearful farewell from those left behind on the wharf. Lillian Armes was on the wharf among all the wives, mothers & sweethearts waving their men goodbye.
The journey took over six weeks and during the voyage George got into trouble when he broke the ships curfew when they were in port at Colombo. He was given 72 hours detention. Just after their arrival in England, George wrote to Lillian.
July 22nd 1916: Dearest Lily, I arrived in England quite safely. We are encamped on Salisbury Plains. I do not know how I will like it yet as we only landed in Plymouth yesterday. The plains are about 130 miles from Plymouth and about 80 from London. I expect to get about five days leave next week and I will run off north for a day or two. I am just about rid of my cold and am not sorry. The boat trip got very monotonous especially at the end. The food got very sickening. I was pleased I took a little money with me. It helped to make the living easier. We bought a bit to help out. We landed at Plymouth. Plymouth is a very old place & very dirty place but it was more than compensated by the nice green fields. I only wished that it was you & I that was taking a trip but everything comes to them that wait. It reminded me of old times to see the nice lanes and green fields, the smell of the clover & the singing of the lark all brought me back to 9 years ago.
We had a four mile walk from the station to the camp. It is a very large camp and covers 200 square miles. We are in huts. Each hut holds 30 men.
August 13th 1916: It has been very windy & dusty today & has tried to rain. I wish it would, it would help to lay the dust a little.
George continued training with the 44th Battalion at Salisbury Plain for the next few months during the English summer. However due to the heavy casualties among the Australians in the Somme battles at Pozieres, some men of the 3rd Division were sent to reinforce the Battalions in France. George was one of these and was transferred to the 28th Battalion.
October 14th 1916: Dearest Lily, today we leave for France. We are going to a place called Etaples. I expect we will put in two or three weeks more training in there so by the time you receive this I will have had my first experience of trench warfare. The group is the draft of men from the 7th TB {Training Battalion} to the 28th Battalion. They are all Westralians and some of them have seen a good deal of fighting before, but in France & Gallipoli. We have had to hand in all our spare clothes. We just go out in what we stand up in & one extra change of underclothes. I had to get rid of my extras so I sent them to Florrie to keep for me. I also sent my watch that Aunty gave me. It has been broke ever since I got leave and I did not bother to get it mended. I have not received any money from you yet so if I get any it will not be any use at the present so I will put it in the Commonwealth Bank in London. It may come in very handy later on. I was down saying goodbye to the 44th boys last night. They all felt sorry we had left them, I do not know when they will get to the front. I think it will be in the Spring. Well dear Lily I will close with lots of love from yours ever George.
George arrived at Etaples France on the 16th October 1916 and joined the 28th Battalion at Flers on the 28th October. He did not have long to wait for action as in early November the 7th Brigade were tasked with capturing the German trenches at the position known as the Maze. In the terrible muddy conditions the 28th Battalion went forward on the 5th November 1916 and George was killed by a shell in No Man’s Land. His body was later found after the war, with a notation in his service record stating that he was buried 2 & ¾ miles S.W. of Bapaume.
In the 1920’s George was laid to rest by Imperial War Grave Authorities at Warlencourt British Cemetery in Plot VI.C.37. He is surrounded by men of the 28th Battalion who were killed in the same assault. After his death Lillian moved to Victoria. While in Victoria she was granted a pension for 2 pounds per fortnight. With a hope of visiting her husband’s grave, Lillian booked her return voyage to England. She left Adelaide on the 1st November 1919 and went to live with a friend in Manchester England.
It is unknown in what date during 1920 she visited George’s grave but there were several group visits to the Western Front battlefields from grief stricken families during this time. Lillian then returned to Western Australia, residing at Palmerston Street Perth during the 1920’s.