2nd Lieutenant Samuel Armistead MC
Lived at 32 Elizabeth Street, Nelson

Military Cross London Gazette 4th October 1919

Brother of 700139 Gunner Willis Armitstead MM

1st/5th and 1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment.

Armitstead was a native of Nelson, Lancashire.

Awarded the Military Cross in the London Gazette of 4 October 1919.

The citation appears in the London Gazette of the same date and reads, “On the 24 October 1918, near Arras, when in charge of a patrol, he pushed forward to the enemy lines, and although the patrol consisted of only one section, he rushed several posts and captured 66 prisoners. Later he returned for more men, and whilst leading them forward he was wounded in the head. Throughout the whole operations he showed the most conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.”

Samuel was born on the 25 February 1888. Formerly WO Class II, 1/5th Battalion, number 1414 (later 240528). He was a native of Nelson, Lancashire, and the brother of 753 (later700139) Gunner Willis Armitstead who won the Military Medal during WW1. They lived at 32, Elizabeth Street, Nelson at the outbreak of WW1.

Samuel landed at Gallipoli on the 10 May 1915 and following the evacuation of that place served in Egypt, the Sinai Desert, France and Belgium. He was promoted 2nd Lieutenant on the 25 June 1918, Lieutenant in 1919 and Captain 1921.

His medal group was Military Cross, 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and General Service Medal (1918-62) bar Iraq. This last medal very scarce to the East Lancashire Regiment - only 4 officers of the regiment received it on "Special Duties) with other regiments.

Also entitled to the 1914/15 Star, War and Victory Medals and the General Service Medal (1918-1962) with bar Iraq (one of just 4 officers of the regiment to receive this medal).

Samuel never married and after WW1 was employed as foreman of road and sewer construction with the local authorities. On the 1939 Register he was living with his mother, Maggie, at 96 Regent Street, Nelson, Lancashire. Samuel died on the 16 July 1961 at Victoria Hospital, Burnley, Lancashire. His address at this time was shown as 16, Lansbury Place, Nelson, Lancashire. He left his effects of £1350.00p to his brother Norris.

Willis Armitstead can be found here https://www.burnleyinthegreatwar.info/burnleygallantry/armitsteadwmm.html