Percy Armitage signature

On this day in 1916, Percy William Armitage enlisted in Kingston. He was born in Toronto on July 25th, 1892, the son of Elias Armitage and Hattie (née Fryer). The family were living in Deseronto at the time of the 1901 and 1911 censuses. Percy was a banker. His younger brother, Norman, had enlisted in May 1915.

Percy joined the 50th Battery of the 13th Canadian Field Artillery Brigade with the regimental number 304654. He was described as having a dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair and was five feet six inches tall. His service record shows that he was transferred to the 52nd Battery. He arrived in England on September 26th, 1916 and went to France on August 28th, 1917. On November 6th, 1918 Percy was granted two weeks of leave in the UK. His leave was extended to three weeks because the war had ended. He returned to France in December. In March 1919 he was treated in hospital for a month for an infection. When he was examined prior to leaving the service in June he was clear of disease.

Armitage arrived back in Halifax on board the RMS Olympic on July 8th, 1919. He was demobilized at Kingston on July 11th. He married Lida Dorothy Lake after the war. He died at the Riverdale Hospital in Toronto on August 12th, 1974 and was buried in Newcastle, Ontario.