On 8 June 1935, the local paper in Kroonstad, South Africa reported the Mr & Mrs John Armstrong were celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary, having married at Jagersfontein 50 years earlier.  The report says that John Armstrong was born in Victoria, Australia about 1860 and went to South Africa with his parents around 1864.

The report includes fascinating details of his involvement in the Zulu wars and the South African diamond mines.  His knowledge of diamonds was even called upon in a Scotland Yard investigation, and helped "in laying the thief by the heels."  That's an expression you don't hear every day.

The newspaper report is reproduced for members in issue 81 of the Armstrong news, and if anyone knows the story of John Armstrong's Australian roots then we'd like to hear from you.

Issue 80 also carries a wide selection of Armstrong stories from around the world.

Starting close to the Clan's homeland of Scotland, the harsh treatment of the widow Elizabeth Armstrong of Sorbietrees by the Dukes of Buccleugh, and her eviction from the family's farm, attracted scathing critiscism.  An extract from the "Scottish Leader" dated 19 April 1894 tells her story.

Around the same time, William Henry Armstrong matriculated from Massachusetts State College.  He graduated in 1899, and went on to earn degrees from Harvard University before joining the US Army and mapping the new US teritory of Puerto Rico.  This issue tells his life story, and reveals the remarkable monument he left to his Alma Mater.

The six-pound Armstrong gun was designed by Sir William Armstrong and manufactured in England beginning in 1855.  This issue includes photographs of an Armstrong gun in New Zealand, where they were used in 1861.

This issue also tells the story of two  Armstrong pioneers.  One, Thomas Armstrong settled in Mersea, Canada in 1855, where he raised a large family.  The other, Adam Pearson Armstrong, born 1788 in Edinburgh, lost an eye fighting at the Battle of Waterloo and emigrated to Western Australia in 1829 with his 6 children.  

John Armstrong was born on the Isle of Man and died in Washington DC from wounds recieved fighting for the Union in the Civil War. Members of The Armstrong Clan Association found his records while researching their own families, and "adopted" him.  As they said, "after all, he is an Armstrong".  John Armstrong's story is told in Issue 80.

Issue 80 of the Armstrong News is available to all members of the Armstrong Clan Association.