George William Allsop

George William attested at Mansfield on 25th June 1917 and was posted to the 14th Training Reserve Battalion. He gave his address as Church View, Alfreton Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield and his religion as Congregationalist. He was transferred to the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) on 1st April 1918, and sailed from Southampton landing at Le Havre the next day. He was killed in action in the field on 15th April just two weeks after landing in France and is remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial He was awarded the British War and Victory Medals.

Notts Free Press, 3rd May 1918 KILLED IN ACTION - We regret to state that Mr A. E. Allsop, Kirkby Road, has received an intimation that his only son, Pte. George Wm. Allsop, has been killed in action. Barely 19 years of age, Private Allsop had been in France only a fortnight. Concerning Private George Frederick Allsop, son of Mr H. Allsop, "Ashlands", who has been missing since December, we are sorry to state that no further news has yet been received. (George Frederick Allsop and George William Allsop were cousins, their fathers being brothers). Ruth Crook remembers her great uncle on ‘Everyman Remembered’ a Royal British Legion internet site which strives to remember all those who did not survive the Great War. ‘Billy was just 18 and had only been in Belgium for 10 days when he was killed. He had been fighting at the front and was returning to base, when a shell landed amongst the men and he was blown to bits. He left behind five sisters, who never forgot him. They told stories about what they did together as children and shared his letters. He was sadly missed and much loved. He is commemorated on the Ploegsteert memorial and on the war memorial in Sutton in Ashfield and in the United Reformed Church, formerly Congregational church in the town.’ Addition information from Lynne Weston