Sarah Elizabeth (known as Bessie) ARMIT. Born 1828 in Waterford Ireland to Major General Andrew Bredin, Royal Artillery and Margaret, nee Briscoe. Wife of Major Louis John Amedee Armit, Royal Engineers. She was married 5 May 1847 at Trinity Church Portsmouth, by the Rev. John Marshall, M.A., chaplain of H.M.S. St. Vincent, Portsea, Hampshire.
Died from dysentry in Malta 15 October 1862 aged 34 years.
At rest in Ta’Braxia Cemetery, Malta.
Notes about her husband Louis John Amedee Armit -
Louis John Amedee Armit was born 1825 in Dublin to John Lees Armit and Eugenie Noemie de Teissier de Marguerittes of Newton Park, Dublin. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, and was formerly Major in the (Queen’s Own) City of Dublin, Militia. Served as Major at the siege of Sevastopol from Feb. to July 1855, and was severely wounded in the batteries on the 4th April (Medal and Clasp, 5th Class of the Medjidie, and Turkish Medal)
Died 16 June 1868 at Ashley House, St Saviours, Jersey aged 47 years.
Wills and Admin, Ancestry -
The Will with a Codicil of Louis John Amedee Armit late of Five Oaks in the Island of Jersey a Lieutenant Colonel in Her Majesty’s Army deceased who died 16 June 1868 at Jersey aforesaid was proved at the Principal Registry 11 August 1868 by the oaths of Henry Thomas Hiplins of Craig’s Court, Charing Cross in the County of Middlesex Esquire and William Henry Saltwell of Landsdown Crescent Notting Hill in the County aforesaid Esquire the Executors.
Promotion gazetted with the London Gazette -
London Gazette dated 27 June 1845
Corps of Royal Engineers.
Gentlemen Cadets to be Second Lieutenants. Louis John Amadee Armit, vice Lovell, promoted. Dated 18th June 1845
London Gazette dated 19 December 1854 -
Office of Ordnance, 18 December 1854.
Corps of Royal Engineers. First Lieutenant Louis John Amadee Armit to be Second Captain, vice W. M. Inglis, deceased. Dated 15th November, 1854
London Gazette dated 24 April 1855 -
Nominal Return of Officers who have been Wounded, from the 2d to the 5th April
1855, inclusive. WOUNDED. 4th April 1855. ROYAL ENGINEERS. Captain L. J. A. Armit, severely
London Gazette dated 2 November 1855 -
To be Major in the Army. Captain L.J.A. Armit, Dated 2 November 1855
London Gazette dated 12 November 1858 –
War-Office, Pall-Mall, 12th November 1858.
Second Captain and Brevet-Major Louis John Amadee Armit to be Captain, vice George Ross, placed on the Seconded List. Dated 28th October 1858
London Gazette dated 9 March 1866 -
Captain and-Brevet-Major L. J. A. Armit, Royal Engineers, to be Lieutenant-Colonels Dated 27th February 1866
Statement of Officers’ Services. Royal Engineers. (Source, National Archives, London
Notes from his Army Record -
Born in Dublin 30 December 1825. Enlisted 1845 aged 19 years and 6 months.
Promotions -
2nd Lieutenant 18 June 1845 from Cadet Company. 1st Lieutenant 1 April 1846. 2nd Captain 15 November 1854. Brevet Major 2 November 1855. 1st Captain 28 October 1858. Lieutenant Colonel 27 February 1866. Brevet Lieutenant Colonel 14 August 1869 on half pay, ill health.
Fought in the Crimean War. In command of a Company of Royal Sappers and Miners at the siege of Sevastopol. This company was formed in 1777 to 1856 when it became the Royal Engineers
Gallant action in the Crimean War.
Notice on Brigade Orders by Major General H Jones for good work performed under fire in advance – trenches – left attack during the night and morning 2 and 3 April 1855.
He was severely wounded in the batteries on 3 April 1855. Received six months’ pay as compensation.
Service abroad -
Bermuda, 15 November 1847 to 4 January 1852. Malta, 4 October 1854 to 23 February 1853. Crimea, 26 February 1855 to 26 August 1855. Jamaica, 17 February 1857 to 17 April 1860. Ceylon, 4 October 1862 to 18 May 1865. (No mention of being in Malta in 1862 when his wife died)
Home service –
Various places in England and Ireland from 1845 to his last posting and discharged from the army. Manchester from the 9 August 1866 to 13 August 1867.
Total service 22 years and 57 days. Half pay for 307 days.
Name and Residence of the Officers’ next of kin, according to the legal ties of consanguinity.
John Lees Armit, father, of Chateau de Brialmont, Belgium.
