ARMYTAGE, Stanley Frederick (1889-1917)
Born at Queenscliff on 10 April 1889, the son of Frank and Caroline Margaret nee Armytage. He was enrolled at Geelong College as a boarder in 1904. His address at enrolment was Bongalong, NSW. He probably left College in 1908.
He enlisted (No 5326) during World War I as a private with the 17th Reinforcements to 8 Battalion leaving Australia on HMAT A14 Euripides on 4 April 1916. He transferred to 24 Battalion in France and while on leave in London he suffered a severe asthma attack, requiring his evacuation on 12 November 1916 on HS Wiltshire to Australia. He died at Soho, Drysdale, on 6 January 1917 as the result of a shooting accident a week after his return on 31 December 1916. His name is commemorated on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, as well as the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Roll.
He had two cousins, sons of Harry Armytage, who attended Tonbridge School in England and served in the Great War. Harry, the older brother, attended the Royal Military Academy, and was gazetted to the Royal Field Artillery (RFA) in 1910, serving with them in France, Palestine and North Russia from August 1914 until November 1919; he was twice Mentioned in. Despatches and awarded the Military Cross. Kenelm, the younger brother, attended the Royal School of Mines, and at the outbreak of the Great War volunteered as a Motor Scout, was in the Retreat from Mons, and later served as a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers in France for the duration of the war.
Sources: Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck. p 7 (citing Alexander Henderson, Henderson's Australian Families (1941); Justin J Corfield and Michael Collins Persse, Geelong Grammarians: A Biographical Register Volume One 1855-1913; National Archives.