Armitage was one of John Gordon Macarthur’s officials during World War I. When Macarthur discovered that one of his officers, Arthur Richmond, was having a relationship with his Macarthur’s wife, he deliberately sent Richmond to death in the frontline in France. Everyone thought that Richmond’s death was casual, as during the war reconnaissance missions often ended in tragedy. However, Armitage understood what happened and perhaps it was him who told Justice Wargrave what General Macarthur had done.