Alfred Armitage and his decision to fight even though he was in a reserved occupation
Alfred’s Great Niece Sue Armitage inherited an incredible collection of items from Alfred relating to the war. These include medals, identity discs, exemption and wound badges, photos and a piece of shell casing. Alfred had reserved occupation status as a steelworker in Sheffield but chose to sign up with his mates anyway. He was wounded in the knee by a piece of shell casing in May 1916 and this ended his war. Alfred’s wounds never healed and he had a limp until the day he died but this wound prevented him from fighting in the Battle of the Somme where many of his mates died. He was given the shell casing from his knee and brought it home with him as a reminder of his service.
The shell casing from Alfred's knee;
Notification of Alfred's wound;
Alfred's medals (including 'Pip', 'Squeak' and 'Wilfred');
Alfred's identity disc;
Certification of war badge;
1915 On War service Badge;
Silver war badge issued to wounded men;
Alfred;
Alfred's wife to be, Jessie;
Alfred with bike;
Alfred in uniform;
Notification of wound
Official document
Medical
Notification of Alfred's wound
Trench Life
Photograph
Alfred Armitage in uniform
Alfred Armitage before signing up with bike
Women
Jessie, Alfred's soon-to-be wife
Studio portrait of Alfred before signing up
Alfred's War Badge (awarded after his wounding in 1916)
Medal
Other
On war Service 1915 badge showing Alfred's status as a reserved occupation worker
Manufacture
Home Front
Notification of Alfred's war badge
Alfred's Identity disc
Alfred's campaign medals incl. 'Pipsqueak and Wilfred'
Shell casing that hit Alfred in the Knee, May 1916
CONTRIBUTOR
Sue Armitage
DATE
-
LANGUAGE
eng
ITEMS
14
INSTITUTION
Europeana 1914-1918
PROGRESS
METADATA
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