Taken from web-site for requesting service records: "The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is the custodian of the Records of Service of Service personnel until they are opened to general public access at The National Archives. Subject to the payment of a search fee of £30 per record and provision of a death certificate (except where death was in service), certain information can be provided from these records on request under the MOD’s publication scheme."
I don't have the knowledge of his death so how can I proceed???
Dates of letters from earliest to latest:
July 30/43 - From his sister W. (Winifred) Armitage, addressed to: Rifleman Armitage L.A. - No. 4694638, "D" Coy. No. 4. Batt. - I.R.T.D. British North - African Forces
Aug. 17/43 - From girl friend Cpl. Mary Bailie (herself with a rank and service number: W/91864), addressed to: RIFLEMAN ARMITAGE L.A. 4694638 - D doy. 4th BATT. I.R.T.D. - BRITISH NORTH AFRICAN - FORCES
Aug. 23/43 - From girl friend Cpl. Mary Bailie, addressed to: RIFLEMAN ARMITAGE LA. 4694638, then the following: D COY. 4 BATT. I.R.T.D. written in the sender's own hand but crossed out with a line through it (looks to have been done by the Post Person, obviously a military man/censorist??) and on the last 2 lineS: BRITISH NORTH AFRICAN - FORCES. In barely leggible script the following is written in the new hand to the side of the address: 78 Div 15 Coy and something else but it is not leggible in the photocopy; I would have to see the original which is in the hands of my Italian friend.
Sept. 1/43 - From his mother, Mrs. J. Armitage [Janet Armitage (nèe Scarth)], addressed to: 4694638 - Rifleman Armitage, L.A. - "D" Coy, No.4 Batt. - I.R.T.D. - B.N.A.F. (nothing cancelled out)
Sept. 4/43 - From his girl friend Connie Bithell, addressed to: Rifleman Armitage, L.A. 4694638 - "C" Coy: 4th Battalion, - No. 1 (I'm not too sure about this No. 1 - it's not written well) I.R.T.D. - British North African Forces. Nothing is cancelled out but "78 DIV" is written to the side.
Oct. 31/43 - From his mother, addressed to: 4694638, Rifleman Armitage L.A. - 9 Sec. 15 Plt G. Coy - 2nd L.I. Rifles, - C.M.F.
Nov. 10/43 - From Connie, addressed to: RIFLEMAN ARMITAGE L.A. - 4694638, - 9 SEC: 15 PLT: "G" COY: - 2nd BATT: - L.I.R. - C.M.F.
Nov. 31/43 - From Connie, addressed to: RIFLEMAN ARMITAGE, L. A. 4694638 - "G" COY: 2nd BATT: - LONDON IRISH RIFLES - C.M.F.
In transcribing these addresses, I have remained faithful to the sender's addressing style and punctuation. The use of a dash (-) is my own to separate for you the lines of the address.
Sarmat