Leonard Harrop

In memoriam

Leonard Harrop was born in Ossett in 1887, the sixth child of seven born to John William Harrop and his wife, Mary Jane (nee Blacker), who married in 1876. John William was born in Ossett and Mary Jane was born in Horbury. All of the children were born in Ossett. In 1891, the family were living on High Street, Gawthorpe, where John William Harrop was working as a joiner. Their children, including Leonard, were aged between 4 and 13, and were all at school. By 1901, four of the boys were working with their father as joiners, but Leonard was still at school. The family were still living at High Street, Gawthorpe. In 1911, Leonard Harrop, aged 24, has moved away and is boarding with a family in Oldham, where he is working as a wireman for the National Telegraph Company. Leonard Harrop married Miriam Clegg at Oldham in September 1912 and they appear not to have had any children. Leonard's mother, Mary Jane Harrop of High Street Gawthorpe died on the 23rd April 1916. Leonard Harrop's army service record has not survived but it is known that he enlisted at Chadderton, Oldham, Lancashire. Leonard Harrop's brother Sapper Ernest Harrop also lost his life in 1917 whilst serving with the Royal Engineers. The Official History gives some interesting information on British Army casualties during the Salonika campaign 1915/1918 in which the 13th Manchesters played a part. Battle casualties totalled 23,762 (Officers 1157), whilst non-battle casualties amounted to 481,262 in number of which 13,843 were officers. The All-Ranks total admitted to hospital suffering from malaria was 163,000 including deaths. In 1917, in order to better control the incidence of this disease, almost 35,000 of all ranks were evacuated to the UK in 1917-18 under a special scheme. Since there was no specific action ongoing on the 13th November 1917, and no information has yet been found in the "Ossett Observer" archive, it is hard to decide how Private Leonard Harrop lost his life. The most likely cause is disease, but that cannot be verified at this stage. Private Leonard Harrop was posthumously awarded the British and Victory Medals, but not the 1914/15 Star, indicating that he did not serve overseas before the 31st December 1915. Private Leonard Harrop was killed in action on the 13th November 1917 and is buried at grave reference F. 1379. at the Karasouli Military Cemetery,1 Greece. Karasouli Military Cemetery is on the edge of the town of Polykastro (formerly Karasouli) which lies some 73 kilometres from Thessaloniki, between the River Axios (Vardas) and the south end of Lake Ardzan (now dry and replaced by a reservoir). The cemetery is behind the football stadium and is next to the Civil Cemetery

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