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Police Constable

Joseph Sproat Armstrong

South Shields Borough Police — ENG

Felonious

End of Watch May 24, 1943

Age 48

The Vigil Panel 199 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 2

Incident

Killed by a direct hit of a bomb on his ARP post in an enemy air raid.

Killed by the direct hit of a bomb on his ARP post during an enemy air raid.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-GB-SSB-6CDDC0EB
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 8, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Constable Armstrong served with the South Shields Borough Police.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Constable Armstrong.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department South Shields Borough Police

Location ENG

Platform Identity ssbpd.nty.eng.gb.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 24, 1943

Age 48

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Cause Detail War

Police Constable Joseph Sproat Armstrong is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In ENG, 702 of 2,827 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 24.8% of this state's fallen. That is 29.4 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At South Shields Borough Police, 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.

South Shields Borough Police

of 3 officers

33.3% Felonious

ENG — Statewide

702

of 2,827 officers

24.8% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Sproat Armstrong's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Joseph Sproat Armstrong Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Sproat Armstrong is highlighted in May.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from South Shields Borough Police are honored on badge.nw.

Police Constable

George William Wheatley