Richard Ramsay Armstrong (bef. 1833 - 1910)

Born before 28 Feb 1833 in Jersey, Channel Islands

Husband of Eliza Susanna (Malet) Armstrong — married 20 Aug 1857 in St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands

Descendants

Died 26 Jun 1910 after age 77 in Perth Public Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Biography

RICHARD RAMSAY ARMSTRONG ^[1] (Armstrong-7547)

PARENTS. Francis Wheeler Armstrong & Esther Françoise (de Quetteville) Armstrong

BIRTH. 1833, Jersey, Channel Islands

CHRISTENING. 28 Feb 1833 in St Peter, Jersey. ^[2]

MARRIAGE. 20 Aug 1857, St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands ^[3]

MARRIAGE. 20 Aug 1857 under Anglican Church rites, Eliza Susanna Malet, daughter of William Edmund Malet & Ann Elizabeth (Matthews) Malet ^[4]

Children:

(1) William George Armstrong, b. 29 May 1859, d. 27 Dec 1941, m. 9 Feb 1888, Elizabeth Jane Garnsey, daughter of Charles Frederick Garnsey & Mary Emma (Stiles) Garnsey

(2) Reginald Clement Francis Armstrong, b. 27 Feb 1861, d. aft. 1883

(3) Laurens Frederick Matthews Armstrong, b. 12 Oct 1862, d. 22 Jan 1940, m. 10 Oct 1925, Jessie Ogilvie, daughter of Edward David Stewart Ogilvie & Theodosia Isabella (de Burgh) Ogilvie

(4) Robert Malet Armstrong, b. 19 Jul 1864, d. 25 Jul 1864

(5) Amy Anne Frances Armstrong, b. 5 Sep 1865, d. 5 Apr 1950, m. 21 Dec 1895, Reginald Malet de Carteret, son of Edward Charles Malet de Carteret & Elizabeth (Poingdestre) Malet de Carteret

(6) Tancred de Carteret Armstrong, b. 17 Apr 1867, d. 29 Jun 1949

Death of Spouse: 31 Mar 1908, Gilnockie, Helena Street, Auburn, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

DEATH. 26 Jun 1910, Perth Public Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

DEATH. ARMSTRONG.-June 26, at Perth, W.A. .Richard R. Armstrong, retired commander Royal Navy.

BURIAL. Karrakatta Cemetery and Crematorium, Karrakatta, Nedlands City, Western Australia, Australia. ^[5]

OBITUARY. THE LATE COMMANDER ARMSTRONG, R.N. A HERO OF THE CRIMEAN WAR. AN ADVENTUROUS CAREER. Few men of the present day led a more strenuous life or passed though so many exciting experiences as Commander R. R. Armstrong, on the retired list of the Royal Navy, whose death in the Perth Public Hospital occurred early yesterday morning.

Although in his 79th year, the gallant officer was a familiar figure in the streets of Perth until a few days since, and it came as a surprise to his friends to learn that on the advice of his medical attendant, he had entered the Perth Hospital.

He had a deep-rooted conviction that the Western Australian coast abounded in sponges of high commercial value, and spent much time and money in his enthusiastic advocacy of what he always contended would form an important industry. He forwarded several interesting specimens to various exhibitions, and had the satisfaction of a receiving a bronze medal at the Franco-British Exhibition, and other marks of recognition, but, although he succeeded in clearly demonstrating the existence of sponges of good commercial value on many parts of the coast, the want of sufficient capital prevented him from embarking on the work of sponge raising on anything like an extensive scale.

Captain Armstrong, who was a member of an old Jersey family, joined the Royal Navy, as a midshipman 63 years ago, and served on H.M.S. Howe, under Sir James Stirling, the first Governor of Western Australia, when that officer was deputed to convey Queen Adelaide, consort of Williams IV, to Madeira on the occasion of her visit to that island in 1847. The sea trip was of only temporary benefit to the Queen, as she died two years afterwards.

Young Armstrong was soon given a taste of hard, exciting service, being stationed on the West African Coast at a period when the slave trade was at its height. He took part in many captures of slave vessels, and especially distinguished himself in several successful boat expeditions. At the outbreak of hostilities with Russia, he was serving on H.M.S. Vesuvius, and was stationed at the mouth of the Danube, where many of the enemy's ships were captured. He was also engaged at the wreck of the Tiger off Odessa, as well as off the Danubian and Circassian coasts.

He was signal midshipman on the Vesuvius when engaged at the historic battle of the Alma, besides commanding on another occasion a steamer operating at the sanguinary Balaclava engagement. During the frightful Crimean winter he served with the Naval Brigade in the trenches before Sebastopol, and was present at the combined attacks on that city. He formed one of the storming party on the Redan, and was present at the final assault on the city.

He had charge of several boats on the Sea of Azof, and was mentioned in despatches for conspicuous seal and gallantry, special promotion speedily following. He was always in the thick of the fighting, and was wounded on no less than four occasions, one of his legs and several of his ribs being broken. His injuries were so severe as to incapacitate him from further service on a man-o'-war, and he was granted a pension for wounds. In addition to receiving the Crimean and Turkish medals and clasps, he was created a Knight of the Legion of Honour and Knight of the Order of Medjidee.

Exposure and wounds had thoroughly undermined young Armstrong's iron constitution, and very reluctantly he had to abandon a profession in which he had so greatly distinguished himself. He went out to New Zealand, and the long sea voyage and enforced rest worked wonders. Soon after his arrival there, he received the appointment of Chief Immigration Officer, and also that of Commissioner and Inspector of Shipping.

After several years of highly efficient service, Captain Armstrong tried his hand at sugar and cotton growing in Fiji, but a tremendous hurricane desolated the islands and swept the plantations and buildings out of existence. The natives were very truculent at that time, and two of the captain's companions were killed and eaten. Three neighbouring planters shared the same fate, so Captain Armstrong abandoned his holding and went over to New South Wales.

He engaged in mining pursuits, but with the love of adventure strong upon him he visited Norfolk Island, where he settled for a time. The handful of hardy industrious islanders were under the rule of the New South Wales Government, and at the instance of Sir Hercules Robinson, at that time Governor, Captain Armstrong was appointed Official Resident, which position he filled for several years.

The courage and intrepidity with which Captain Armstrong faced danger may be gathered from an incident narrated by the chief officer of a steamer nearly wrecked at Norfolk Island. The steamer was anchored in a lagoon and everything appeared safe and snug, until late in the afternoon, when it started to blow so hard that the anchors failed to hold. She drifted, and by the time steam was up she was dangerously close to an ugly-looking reef, over which the surf was roaring. A combing big sea broached over the steamer, and despite anchors and steam in the vessel was quickly in a desperate position.

The helm was put hard a-port but with a swoping crash another huge wave tumbled over the steamer swinging her bows round, anchors and all, until with a bump she was hardened up in shoal water, not more than 10ft. from the hungry-looking rocks.The boat lowered to get a warp out was swamped, and to make matters worse something went wrong with the engines.

Just at this critical moment, Captain Armstrong appeared on the beach and got a crew of his islanders to run a big ship's boat to the water's edge. Then divesting himself of clothes and boots he plunged into the surf, and after three attempts managed to seize a rope from the steamer. He was quite exhausted and had to be pulled aboard. After a brief breathing spell the captain went overboard with the line fastened round his waist, and after a severe struggle managed to reach the shore.

The rope was made fast to the boat, which was then launched and hauled out to the steamer. After great difficulty the boat was got round to the lee side, and then with a strong and willing crew, Captain Armstrong managed, after repeated failures, to lay a kedge and warp the steamer out of danger.

The gale moderated next day and the steamer passed safely through the reef, Captain Armstrong leaving in his boat just in the nick of time. The captain and officers were unanimous in their opinion that Captain Armstrong's coolness and courage saved their vessel from total loss.

After leaving Norfolk Island Captain Armstrong turned his attention to farming and pastoral pursuits, both'in New South Wales and Tasmania, and was a successful exhibitor at various agricultural shows.

Notwithstanding his advanced age, he offered his services to the British authorities at the outbreak of the South African war. He also made three efforts to be included in the forces raised in Tasmania. and actually passed the medical examination for the Bushmen's Corps, but without success.

Naturally during his long and adventurous career he passed through many stirring incidents, which, if collected and properly arranged, would form a highly thrilling narrative. Indeed, he spent a portion of his time of late years in the compilation of his memoirs, and was in negotiation with a publishing firm in England with a view to their publication, and but for the tenacity with which he stuck to his avowed purpose of demonstrating the commercial value of the Western Australian sponges, he would have acted upon the advice of his friends in this State and relatives in Jersey, some three years ago, to proceed to England and complete his negotiations with the publishers.

In addition to his other gifts, the deceased officer was a draughtsman of some ability, especially as a caricaturist; a clever photographer, and possessed of considerable inventive genius. He was also a member of the Masonic Craft. His two sons, one of whom is a member of the legal profession in New South Wales, where both reside, survive him.

The Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australians

ARMSTRONG, Richard Ramsay b. 1832 d. 26.6 .1910. Formerly Royal Navy. Shark Bay pearler. ^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ Armstrong, Richard Ramsay (1831–1910), by H. J. Gibbney, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 3, (MUP), 1969: http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/armstrong-richard-ramsay-2899
2. ↑ "Jersey, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1915"| for Richard Armstrong, Baptism Date: 28 Feb 1833, Baptism Place: St Peter, Jersey;Father: Francis Wheeler Armstrong, Mother: Esther Francoise De Quitteville Armstrong Godfather: Samuel Ramsey Esq., Godmother: Mrs. Sarah Ramsey, his wife (Ancestry.com [on-line database]) Ancestry Record 61218 #463090
3. ↑ Richard Ramsay Armstrong's Book of His Adventures, by Richard Ramsay Armstrong, Apprendix I: The Armstrong Family, pp357-364: http://bit.ly/1LzUvDt
4. ↑ " Jersey, Church of England Marriages, 1754-1940"| for Richard Ramsey Armstrong, Gender: Male, Age: 24, Birth Year: abt 1833, Marriage Date: 20 Aug 1857, Marriage Place: St Helier, Jersey; Parish as it Appears: St Helier, Father: Francis Wheeler Armstrong, Spouse: Eliza Susannah Mallet (Ancestry.com [on-line database]) Ancestry Record 61219 #301215
5. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/213602008/richard-ramsay-armstrong: accessed 10 September 2022), memorial page for Richard Ramsay Armstrong (1832–26 Jun 1910), Find A Grave: Memorial #213602008, citing Karrakatta Cemetery and Crematorium, Karrakatta, Nedlands City, Western Australia, Australia; Maintained by woowoo (contributor 49949980) .
6. ↑ The Bicentennial Dictionary of Western Australians, pre-1829-1888, Vol 1, A, pg 71. [compiled by Rica Erickson] https://www.friendsofbattyelibrary.org.au/bicentennial-dictionary

See also:

• " 1841 Channel Islands Census"| for St. Peter, Jersey. With father Francis Armstrong 55 army H.P., mother Esther Armstrong 40, brother Robert Armstrong 15, brother Clement Armstrong 14, sister Fanny Armstrong 12, brother William Armstrong 11, self Richard Armstrong 8, brother Frederick Armstrong 7, sister Matilda Armstrong 6, sister Emma Armstrong 5, sister Clara Armstrong 2, f. l. Jane Robbins 20, ag. laborer John Bodders 20, Faithful Stephens 20, clergyman William Smith 30, & governess Mary Gilhailm 20. (Ancestry.com [on-line database]) Ancestry Record 8980 #14448634
• Death Notice: The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Tue 28 Jun 1910, Page 6: http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/15131593
• Obituary: The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954) Mon 27 Jun 1910, Page 3: http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/26261066