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James Ramsay Armitage - Information

James Ramsay Armitage was born in Camden c1899, to parents James and Margaret. When the war began, he was living in Langwith in Double Bay with his family. At the time, he was continuing his studies, and when he turned 18, enlisted in the AIF on the 26th of May 1917 in Sydney. He trained at the Royal Showground Camp and was made a Gunner with the Field Artillery Brigade. He then departed Sydney Harbour on the 16th of November 1917 on the SS Canberra for war service.

James landed in Egypt, however, had been suffering with influenza throughout the voyage. He was admitted to hospital in Suez, and released at the end of December when he was feeling better. He was then shipped to England, arriving at Southampton on the 30th of January 1918. From there, he was marched out to the Reserve Brigade Australian Artillery for instruction. However, James succumbed to the cold weather and previous infection and reported sick, admitted to hospital in Sutton Veny. In late April, he was then transported to France, and taken to the Australian General Base Depot in Rouelles, before joining the 8th Field Artillery Brigade. James served with his unit during the bitter fighting and rapidly changing frontlines in 1918. After the war ended, he was transported back to England. He was then discharged from the AIF in London on the 11th of March 1919.