Josiah Armour (1890-1916)
South Shields man served as a trimmer in the Royal Naval Reserve on HM Trawler Altair
Josiah Armour was born on 6 August 1890 in South Shields. His father was Robert Armour (1846-1893), a coal trimmer who was born in Hartlepool. His mother was Mary Ann Cox, a labourer’s daughter from Warwickshire. His parents married in 1879 in Bristol. Josiah had one full brother and sister and a further half brother born after his father’s death.
At the time of the 1891 census the family lived at 98 Palmerston Street, Westoe. By the 1901 census Robert had died and Mary Ann had married David Beattie in South Shields in 1900. David was a Scottish born cartman working on his own account. When the 1901 census was taken the family were living at 3 Swan Lane, South Shields.
No trace of Josiah can be found in the 1911 census although his family were still living in South Shields. It may be that he was at sea as a merchant sailor at the time of the census which would help explain the fact that he was in the Royal Naval Reserve (RNR). At the outbreak of war he served as a trimmer in the RNR with the service number 4223 TS.
In December 1916 Josiah was part of the crew of HM Trawler Altair that was probably involved in mine-sweeping duties out of Gibraltar. Records show that he drowned on 23 December 1916. His body was recovered and he is buried in Gibraltar North Front Cemetery in grave C3455. He is remembered on the Roll of Honour 1914-18, Holy Trinity, South Shields.
Josiah Armour was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service in World War One. His medals were sent to his sister.
Civil Parish: South Shields
Birth date: 06-Aug-1890
Death date: 23-Dec-1916
Armed force/civilian: Navy
Residence: 98 Palmerston Street, Westoe, South Shields (1891 census)
3 Swan Lane, South Shields (1901 census)
Family: Parents: Robert Armour (1846-1893), Mary Ann Armour (nee Cox) (1856-1918), later Mary Ann Beattie
Siblings: William Armour (b 1887), Emma Armour (b 1893), Mark Armour (b 1896)
Military service:
4223TS
Trimmer
Royal Naval Reserve
HM Trawler Altair
Medal(s): 1914-15 Star
Victory Medal
British War Medal
Memorial(s): North Front Cemetery, Gibraltar, Grave C3455
Roll of Honour Fallen 1914-18, Holy Trinity, South Shields
Gender: Male
Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham
