Thomas ALLSOP

14 July 1916

ROLL OF HONOUR AT FARNHILL

On Sunday evening a special service was held in the Farnhill Primitive Methodist Chapel, the preacher being the Rev. J.E. Woodfield. Mr. Woodfield took as his subject, "The world as it is to be," and at the close of his sermon, in unveiling a Roll of Honour to the lads who had gone from the Farnhill Primitive Methodist Church to serve their King and Country, said they had put all on the roll who had been associated with the school at the time of enlistment, and all who had previously been associated with the school. They were very proud of those who had gone at the call of their King and Country in the hour of crisis, and he asked them to remember the lads in their prayers, and he hoped that they might be kept in the hour of danger, and as far as possible preserved from hurt and ill and, if it was the Creator's will, brought back home again in safety.

Mr. Woodfield then read out the names of the men inscribed on the roll, which are as follows:-Herbert Barker, George Holliday, Heaton Mosley, Albert Kitson, Harry Kitson, Percy H. Walmsley, Walter Hargreaves, John W. Archer, Harry Walmsley, John Pollard, Fred Dixon, John Dixon, Harry Pollard, James S. Pollard, Frank Pollard Cecil Green, Wm. Hopkinson, Ernest Thompson, Wm. Thompson, Thomas Bulcock, Harry Bulcock, J. Robert Thornton, Reginald Sutcliffe, Irvin Bland, Tom Allsop, Arthur Daffern, Leo Spencer, Albert Atkinson, Albert L. Backhouse, Tom Whitaker, Arthur Turner, Arthur Overend, Fred Spencer, Arthur Greenwood, Edwin Garnett, Ernest Garnett, Charles Taylor, Alec Mosley, Ernest Dixon, Frank Pollard, Joseph Green, Harry Green, Frank Mosley.

The Roll of Honour, which is to be placed in the schoolroom, is very beautifully illuminated and framed. Surrounding the names are the flags of the Allies, with an inscription to the brave men who have gone forth from the Primitive Methodist Church, and at the foot of the roll are Tennyson's word "Not once or twice in our own island story, the path of duty was the way to glory."

01 December 1916

ALLSOPP - Killed in action in France, November, 1916, Corp. Tom Allsopp, Duke of Wellington's Regiment, Beech Street, Crosshills, aged 22 years.

01 December 1916

CORPORAL TOM ALLSOPP OF CROSSHILLS KILLED

Mrs. Allsopp, of Beech Street, Crosshills, received a letter on Sunday morning from Lieut. B. Godfrey Buxton, informing her that her son, Corporal Tom Allsopp, of the Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment, had been killed in action in France. Lieutenant Buxton pays a glowing tribute to the memory of Corporal Allsopp, and says:-

"Dear Mrs. Allsopp:- I deeply regret to have to inform you that your son, 2595, Corporal T. Allsopp, was killed in action last night. He had just received his promotion and was doing particularly good work. We all join in sending you our deepest sympathy in this great loss and pray that you may indeed have comfort through it. He was buried this afternoon by the Chaplain with some of his comrades in the British cemetery behind the line. His personal belongings will be forwarded to you as soon as possible. Again, with our deepest sympathy in the loss of so brave a son.

"I remain, yours sincerely, (Signed), B. GODFREY BUXTON, Lieutenant D Company."

Corporal Allsopp enlisted in the month following the outbreak of war. He went out to the Front with his regiment in April, 1915. About last Christmas he and others were coming home on leave and were resting at a farmhouse near the firing line, when they were ordered by their officer to put on their gas helmets at once, as the Germans had launched a gas attack. They were then marched in single file into the trenches again, first into the reserve trenches, and then into the front line trenches. When they got to the first line trench they found all the men who had been in the trench at the time of the gas attack were dead. Corporal Allsopp (then Private Allsopp) and several of his comrades were then picked out to go on guard on the canal bank. They were on guard three successive days and nights, and it was at this time that Corporal Allsopp contracted gas poisoning. For his work on this occasion he was promoted to Lance-Corporal and was granted leave, and came home to Crosshills. He returned to France about New Year's Day. When he arrived back in France he fell ill from the effects of the poison, and was sent to a war hospital in France, where he was seriously ill for several weeks. He should have come home on one of the hospital ships, but was too ill to be moved. When he was fit to be sent across the sea he was sent to a war hospital in Ireland, and afterwards to a convalescent hospital at Blackpool. After being at Blackpool for some time he received a ten days' leave, at the expiration of which he went to his depot at Clipstone, shortly afterwards being drafted out to France again. He was made Corporal about six weeks ago, was the eldest son, and was about 22 years of age. He was closely connected with the Crosshills Wesleyan Church, and is the first whose name is on the church's roll of honour to fall in action. He was a lad who was held to high esteem for his sterling qualities, and his parents have received numerous expressions of sympathy in their sad bereavement.

08 December 1916

CROSSHILLS - MEMORIAL SERVICE: THE LATE CORPORAL TOM ALLSOPP

A memorial service for the late Corporal Tom Allsopp, who was killed on the 20th November, was held on Sunday morning in the Wesleyan Church. In the congregation were several soldiers, including Lieutenant John Spencer, who was home on leave, and Private Brian Smith, a Crosshills boy, who was wounded some months ago in his leg. The preacher, the Rev. Thomas Dargue, said it was the duty of the Christian Church to keep the world alive to the horrors of war, but there was one thing worse than war, and that was an immoral peace. They were in no doubt as to what they were fighting for. Never had there been a conflict in the history of the world when the issues between right and wrong were so clearly defined. Their departed friend entered into a conflict which was, in his case, as in the case of thousands of others, nothing less than revolution. He enlisted on September 4th, 1914, and if their minds went back to that time they would remember that their enemies were not far from the city of Paris. Tom Allsopp, engaged in the mill, a young man who loved home, for he was not a man of war, but a man of peace, offered himself as a sacrifice for his country. Everybody did not agree with him when he enlisted, but he was not possessed by the lust of blood. He was a type of a vast army to whom the war meant a revolution; who went into the conflict because one country, a strong one, chose to regard a peace treaty with a weaker nation as a scrap of paper when the fitting opportunity arose. The revolution was the result of a revelation that came when the world found that a set of men had deliberately decided to overthrow the moral forces of the world and to establish the hideous theory that might was right. There were many people who were being called to suffer through the war. With some the grief would pass with the passing years, but the joy and honour would abide and increase as the history of the future revealed the stupendous issues that were at stake, and the corresponding credit of defending the imperilled honours of Christendom, and leading back law and righteousness to their thrones. They must see to it that the lads had not died in vain. They must live for God and country as never before. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Miss Fanny Wilson gave the solo 'O rest in the Lord', and Mr. Walter Thornton officiated at the organ. There was a large congregation.

08 December 1916

CROSSHILLS - Tributes to a Fallen Hero

Mr. and Mrs. Allsopp have received numerous letters of sympathy and condolence in the loss of their son, Corporal Tom Allsopp, of the Duke of Wellington's Regiment. A letter from his fellow non-commissioned officers is as follows:-

"Dear Mrs. Allsopp, - I write these few lines on behalf of the non-commissioned officers and men of the 14th Platoon offering you our deepest sympathy in your great loss, which we all feel very greatly indeed. He was a good and cheerful N.C.O., and believe me, we all miss him very much indeed. He was a personal friend of mine, and we were always together, both in and out of the trenches, and I can't make you understand how I feel at your loss. It may be some consolation to you to know he did not suffer any pain at all, death being instantaneous. From his friend, Corporal C. PARKER, and his Platoon Sergeant, SERGEANT FRANKLAND. "

Corporal Allsopp's Platoon Officer writes:-

"In the Field, November 28, 1916.

"Dear Mrs. Allsopp, - I want to say how very deeply I sympathise with you in your terrible loss. Your son was in my Platoon, and it may be some little consolation to you to know that he was killed at his post. He was always cheerful and willing and I had a very high opinion of him as a non-commissioned officer. He was a great favourite with all the Company, and I can assure you that your sorrow is shared by us all. I know that time alone can make your grief less, but it may help you to know that your son at all times did his duty nobly and well. Yours sincerely, (Signed) A. P. SMITH, 2nd Lieutenant, 14th Platoon."

Private James Petty, of the West Yorkshire Regiment, at present stationed at Whitley Bay, has sent a splendid letter paying tribute to Corporal Allsopp's character. He writes:- "Dear Mr. and Mrs. Allsopp, - Having just heard from my wife about your great loss, please accept my heartfelt sympathy. Tom was a workmate of mine, and I always found in him a right good living lad and a son I am sure you must have been proud of. I myself feel it greatly, for I had looked forward to settling down again and having Tom for my workmate again, but that was not to be, and I only hope you will be given strength to bear this great trouble which has been placed upon you. Knowing that Tom, your son, has done his duty, you must try and bear up and look forward for the future. I am, yours truly, (Signed) JAMES PETTY, a friend of Tom's."

Mr and Mrs. Allsopp have also received several letters from influential local people, including one from Mr. Thos. Appleby; the late Corporal Allsopp's schoolmaster at the Kildwick National School.

05 January 1917

FARNHILL - IN MEMORY OF THE BRAVE

On Sunday a memorial service was held in the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Farnhill, for Pte. H. Walmsley (who death was recorded a fortnight ago in this paper), and for all who have given their lives for their country, especially for Joseph Green, Fred Dixon, Tom Allsop and Joseph Smith, who were old scholars of the Primitive Methodist Sunday School. The Rev. J.E. Woodfield preached a very touching sermon. There was a very large congregation, amongst whom were the members of the Volunteer Force under the command of Captain Alfred Clough, Sutton, members of the band, and a number of old scholars. An augmented choir sang the anthem 'Our trust is in the Lord' with great effect. Being the National Intercession Sunday, the prayers used were those provided on the form of service for the day. At the conclusion the 'Last Post' was sounded by Mr. Gordon Fowlds, a member of the Keighley Volunteer Force.