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14409648, 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment.
Cyril Allsopp was born in Ossett on the 13th July 1925, the eldest surviving child of Harold Allsopp (born on the 4th July 1900) and Muriel Hepworth (born on the 28th April 1901) who married at Holy Trinity Church, Ossett on the 15th December 1923. Harold, a coal miner, was living at 16, Radley Street, Ossett and Muriel’s home was at 3, Tomlinson’s Yard, Dale Street, Ossett.
In 1939 Harold, a coal hewer (hand), and Muriel were living with five of their children, including Cyril, aged 14 years and already working as a leather carrier, at 80, Sunnybank Avenue, Ossett.
Private Allsopp served with the 1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment was a Regular Army unit that served in the Burma Campaign and India from 1942 to 1945 with the 32nd Indian Infantry Brigade, 20th Indian Infantry Division.
The “Ossett Observer” carried this obituary for Cyril Allsopp:1
“Death in India from Smallpox – Private Cyril Allsopp – The deepest sympathy will be felt with Mr. and Mrs. Harold Allsopp, 80, Swithenbank Avenue, Ossett, who have received official information that their son, Cyril Allsopp (18), has died in hospital in India from smallpox. An old Holy Trinity schoolboy, he worked successively at Sykes’ Athletic Works, Horbury Bridge; Old Roundwood Colliery and the Doric Concrete Works, Low Laithes. He was a member of the Home Guard and joined up with the Northamptonshire Regiment. At the conclusion of his training in this country, he was sent to India. Three of his uncles, members of a Flushdyke family, are serving.”
Private Allsopp died from smallpox on the 11th March 1944 aged 18 years and is buried at Grave 1 D 6, at Kirkee War Cemetery, India. Kirkee, also known as Khadki, is a Military Cantonment adjoining the large university town of Poona on the Plateau above Bombay.
Kirkee War Cemetery was created to receive Second World War graves from the western and central parts of India where their permanent maintenance could not be assured. The cemetery contains 1,668 Commonwealth, 1 Polish and 1 American burials of the Second World War and 7 non-war burials. In addition, 629 First World War servicemen were buried in the cemetery in unmarked graves in the grassed area between the Memorial and the Cross of Sacrifice. They are commemorated by name on the Kirkee Memorial.2
References:
1. “Ossett Observer”, Saturday, 20th May 1944.
