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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Irving Armitage

In memory of:

Flying Officer Irving Armitage

November 23, 1943

Military Service


Service Number:

J/22059

Age:

28

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

434 Sqdn.

Additional Information


Born:

June 4, 1915

Irving Armitage was one of 10 children of George and Adrianna Armitage of Wauchope, Saskatchewan.

He was a school teacher at Balgonie, Saskatchewan before enlisting and was married to a British girl by the name of Patty.

Brother of Corporal Harold George Armitage, who died while serving with the Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regiment) and Clarence Valmore, who also enlisted, but was released as medically unfit.

Commemorated on Page 132 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Surrey, United Kingdom

Grave Reference:

Panel 172.

Location:

During the Second World War more than 116,000 men and women of the Air Forces of the British Commonwealth gave their lives in service. More than 17,000 of these were members of the Royal Canadian Air Force, or Canadians serving with the Royal Air Force. Approximately one-third of all who died have no known grave. Of these, 20,450 are commemorated by name on the Runnymede Memorial, which is situated at Englefield Green, near Egham, 32 kilometers by road west of London.

The design of the Runnymede Memorial is original and striking. On the crest of Cooper's Hill, overlooking the Thames, a square tower dominates a cloister, in the centre of which rests the Stone of Remembrance. The cloistered walks terminate in two lookouts, one facing towards Windsor, and the other towards London Airport at Heathrow. The names of the dead are inscribed on the stone reveals of the narrow windows in the cloisters and the lookouts. They include those of 3,050 Canadian airmen. Above the three-arched entrance to the cloister is a great stone eagle with the Royal Air Force motto, Per Ardua ad Astra". On each side is the inscription:

IN THIS CLOISTER ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF TWENTY THOUSAND AIRMEN WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE. THEY DIED FOR FREEDOM IN RAID AND SORTIE OVER THE BRITISH ISLES AND THE LANDS AND SEAS OF NORTHERN AND WESTERN EUROPE

In the tower a vaulted shrine, which provides a quiet place for contemplation, contains illuminated verses by Paul H. Scott."

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Photo of IRVING ARMITAGE– In memory of the men and women memorialized on the pages of the Winnipeg Evening Tribune. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Memorial– Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Flying Officer Irving Armitage is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Flying Officer Irving Armitage is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Identification– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of Irving Armitage– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Document– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Attestation Paper– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Document– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Memorial– Remembering brothers lost … Brothers In Arms Memorial, Zonnebeke, BE … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens … May 2022
  • Photo of Irving Armitage– Irving Armitage with his crew of the 434 Squadron: back row- Harry, Ken, Jock and Irving front row- Jack, Ted and Tommy.
  • Photo of IRVING ARMITAGE– Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Plaque– WW2 Memorial, Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario
  • Memorial– Memorial window, Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario
  • Memorial– Memorial stair, Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario
  • Memorial– Memorial arch, Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario
  • Memorial– Memorial doll, Royal Military College, Kingston, Ontario
  • Memorial– Entrance - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Stone of Remembrance - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Panels - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Inscription - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

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