Remembrance Day honours: Sapper Harry Allsopp

Every year on 11 November, Remembrance Day honours deceased military members. And at The Joinery Network, we have a personal story to share.  

Andy Ball, Founder Director of the Joinery Network, will honour his grandfather, Sapper Harry Allsopp, 4 Field Squadron in the Royal Engineers, by visiting his grave in Krakow Rakowicki Cemetery, Poland.

Harry was just 28 years old when he died on 2 December 1944. Alongside 29 others, he was killed in an air attack that we believe was by the American Air Force. Andy will be in Krakow 80 years to the day after his grandfather’s killing.  

Andy said: “Through Googling Harry’s army number, we found out where he was buried. This was just before lockdown, and I made a vow to visit his grave in Krakow.  

“There’s an extra layer of sadness that my mum Eileen never knew where her father was buried, or that she was remembered on his headstone. 

“Earlier this year, I also found his name on the war memorial in King Street, Belper. His name would have been there since the memorial was erected, but no one in our family knew it was there.  

“I have only just found out the latest information about Harry’s life through Richard Pinkett, a local historian on a Facebook group called Belper in Wartime. Richard sent through more information about where Harry was held, plus a transcript of a letter from S. Sherriff, , on behalf of the prisoners of Stalag 344 Germany, to send his deepest sympathy to the families. He and other prisoners in the camp attended the funeral service.  

“Although I knew he was a prisoner of war, held both in Italy and Poland, my brothers and I never knew that he had been held in Auschwitz. There was no one around to tell us about his history.  

“I cannot thank Richard enough for sharing the details of Harry’s life and death. As with many families, the losses were not talked about as people had to rebuild their lives after the war. It is good to know that local historians have knowledge of those who died, and they continue to be remembered on 11 November each year.”