William Victor Armes

A Lance Sergeant with 621 Field Squadron, William died on 31st of October 1943 at the age of 28. 

William was born at Lowestoft on 12 September 1915, a son of Richard Archer and Martha Elizabeth Armes. He was baptised at Saint John’s Church, Lowestoft, on 8 December 1915, and his family lived at 36 Saint John’s Road, Lowestoft. By 1921 they were living at 28 Union Road, Lowestoft.

William married May Moody in 1937, this was registered in the Pancras district of London. Later Mary lived at 24 Ednell Road South, Boreham Wood, and later at 10 Auckland Road, Potters Bar

William enlisted in the Royal Engineers at Edgeware on 11 November 1939. On 8 June 1940 he was serving with 554 Field Company. He embarked for the Middle East on 14 February 1942 and landed at Tewfik (Suez) on 11 April 1942. In May 1942 he joined 654 Artisan Works Company. 

On 28 July 1942 William was admitted to hospital and he was discharged on 16 August 1942. On 8 September 1942 he joined 142 Field Park Squadron, and later 21 Field Park Squadron which became 621 Field Park Squadron in August 1943. He was appointed Lance Sergeant on 27 August 1943. 

On 16 September 1943 William’s unit embarked on Landing Ship Tank 367 at Tripoli Harbour. On 19 August the disembarked at the mouth of the River Tusciano, Italy. A divisional attack began on 22 August and on 28 August they had breakfast in Salerno. 

On 2 October 1943 William accompanied men of the 11th Hussars into Marigliano. They took two White (M3A1) armoured cars and were ‘shot up’ but managed to get away. For the next few days they had the job of ferrying vehicles across the river at Volturno. 

The Squadron War Diary for 31 October 1943 has:

An unlucky shell near a reconnaissance ‘White’ killed Lance Sergeant Armes and Sapper Hilden (Three other Sappers also wounded)