2nd Lieut Tom Harrop

• Age: 20
• From: Morley, Yorks
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 28th April 1918
• Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Tom was born on 10th May 1897 in Morley, Yorkshire, and was the son of Joseph Harrop and his wife Mary Elizabeth (nee Habergham). His parents married in 1892.

The 1901 Census finds the family living at 16 Zoar Street, Morley. Tom is stated to be 3 years of age and is living with his parents and 4 siblings. His father, Joseph is said to be a Rag and Mungo Merchant born in Morley in 1868, whilst his mother Mary Elizabeth was born in Hebden Bridge in 1864. All four of Tom's siblings were born in Morley; Lydia F. b.1894, George b.1895, Fred b.1899 and his twin sister Annie b.1899.

The 1911 Census shows the family now living at 25 Daisy Hill, Morley. Tom is now shown as 13 years of age and lives with his parents and 5 siblings; Lydia Florence, George, Annie, Frederick and Mary b.1906 at Morley. 

Tom was first educated at Churwell Grange School, and from 1909 to 1914 at Morley Secondary School, where he was a school prefect, a good cricketer and athlete. He was connected with the Baptist Sunday School in Morley, and was a keen supporter of the Boy Scout Movement.

On the outbreak of war, although only 17,he tried to enlist, and despite being turned down on six times and on the 7th occasion he was accepted by the Royal Army Medical Corps for training at their depot at Harewood in Yorkshire. He later transferred to the Royal Engineers. His service papers show that he attested on 17th September 1915 at Chatham with Royal Engineers No.120588 (previously attested 20th Nov 1914 with 2/1st West Riding RAMC(T) No.380), aged 19 years 6 months, occupation wool trade, height 5' 9", chest 37." Next of kin shown as his father Joseph Harrop Daisy Hill House, Morley, Leeds

In August 1915, as Corporal 120588, was sent to France attached to the Special Gas Section.

He was later selected for Officer Training and returned home to Morley for his first UK leave on January 7th. After six mothers at an Officer Cadet School, he was commissioned and Gazetted to the 17th Battalion The King’s Liverpool Regiment. He crossed the Channel on 18th July 1917 and reported for duty on 03rd August when the Battalion was stationed in the Ypres area of Belgium.

He was granted leave from 25th October until 04th November 1917 and then served with the Battalion for the remainder of 1917, and throughout the Fifth Army’s retreat after the German offensive of March 1918. He was killed in action on 28th April 1918, aged 20.

On that day the Battalion was in the trenches at Voomezeele, on the Ypres Salient in Belgium, when in the early afternoon, a company of a Composite Battalion on the left flank gave way under a German attack and allowed the enemy to penetrate the 17th Battalion position. The Germans maintained this position despite some five hours of fighting, and a British counter attack planned for the early evening had to be abandoned after the enemy laid down a three hour bombardment. During the course of this action in ether early evening or the afternoon he was shot by a sniper and died instantly. He was two weeks short of his 21st Birthday.

Details of the circumstances are contained in the Battalion diary:

By the 25^th April the battalion had taken up positions of readiness in the Voormezeele sector. According to the battalion War Diary, on the night of the 27^th, at 8.30 p.m. they moved to the line to relieve 4^th Bn, relief completed about 1 a.m.

28^th – At about 1 p.m. a company of composite battalion gave way on the left of our line and the Bosche penetrated from the Canal Bank to the left of my battalion front, which position he maintained despite 5 hours fighting. My reserve company was ordered to counter-attack and restore the position at 7.45 p.m. but enemy laid down a barrage at 7.43 a.m. and the counter attack was unable to proceed. The enemy bombardment lasted until 10.30 p.m. and I then organised a defensive flank. 

He was making a reconnaissance at the time of his death, on failing to return to the safety of his trench his servant Private Charles Hankin went out to look for him and in doing so was killed himself within moments. 

Tom's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

His death was reported in the Yorkshire Post on 20th May 1918

Sec.Lieut. TOM HARROP - King's Liverpool Regiment, second son of Mr and Mrs Joseph Harrop, Daisy Hill House, Morley, was killed in action on April 27. He was 21 years of age. His Chaplain says: "We all mourn his loss, for he was counted the bravest officer in the battalion. His men loved him, knowing that whatever they were called upon to do, the officer was always in the front; his thought was all for them and he inspired a great deal of trust in his judgement and leadership." Lieut. Harrop was a pupil at Morley Secondary School when war broke out, and he at once joined the R.A.M.C., subsequently going into the Royal Engineers and obtaining his commission early last year.

Soldiers Effects to his father Joseph and no Pension record found.

Probate 1919

HARROP - Tom of Daisy Hill House, Morley, Yorkshire Second Lieutenant Liverpool Regiment died 27th April 1918 in Belgium Administration (with Will) London 22 February to Joseph Harrop cloth manufacturer. Effects £439 10s 5d

Tom is also commemorated on the family headstone at Morley Cemetery

He is remembered on the Morley War Memorial located in Scatchered Park.

His father was the Mayor of Morley from 1922 -1923 and died 06th July 1936 aged 67. His mother died on 25th August 1934 aged 70.

We currently have no further information on Tom Harrop. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Photograph kindly shared on Ancestry by Lucy Field.