John Edward's Story.
EARLY LIFE
John Edward Harrop was born in Chorlton, Manchester in 1881, the son of Elizabeth (née Robinson) and James Harrop, a grocer. In 1891, ten-year-old John was living at 67 Crompton Road, Macclesfield with his parents and siblings George (16) and Ernest (2). By 1901 the family had moved to 54-56 Oxford Road and John was working as a clerk. John's father died in 1904 and this was probably when he became a grocer, taking over the family business.
In 1910 John married Amy Harrison of 29 Dale Street, Macclesfield at St John's Church. By the following year the couple had moved to 36 Glebe Street, Stockport and were running their own grocery business.
MILITARY SERVICE
John's death was reported in the Macclesfield Times on 15 February 1918:
PRIVATE J E HARROP - OFFICIAL NEWS OF HIS DEATH
Official news has been received of the death in action in France on January 27th of Pte John Edward Harrop, Liverpool Regt, whose wife resides at Henbury, near Macclesfield. Pte Harrop was the son of Mrs Harrop, 56 Oxford Rd, Macclesfield, and thirty-seven years of age. He received his education at Townley Street School and was connected with St George's Street Baptist Chapel and Sunday School. Pte Harrop joined the Army about eighteen months ago, being at the time employed by Messrs W H L Slater, Ltd, Bollington. He had been in France since September, 1917.
Private Ernest Harrop, his younger brother, is engaged in clerical work at Oswestry. He has seen active service in France and was wounded in April 1917, being invalided home.
His death was also reported in the Macclesfield Courier the next day:
Mrs Harrop, of Brookside Cottage, Chelford Road, has received news that her husband, Pte John Edward Harrop, was killed in action in France on January 27th...
COMMEMORATION
Rifleman John Harrop is buried in Grave Ref. II. D. 49. of the Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, France. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Rifleman John Harrop, and he is listed on the Imperial War Museum’s Lives of the First World War website.
In Macclesfield, Rifleman John Harrop is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall, St John's Church and St George's Street Baptist Church war memorials. Nearby, he is also commemorated on the Henbury and Broken Cross war memorial at St Thomas Church, Henbury.
NOTES
Brother of Ernest Stanley Harrop, who served as 71117 Corporal (later Sergeant) in the King's (Liverpool Regiment), was invalided home after receiving a gunshot wound to the chest in April 1917, returned to duty after his recovery, and survived the war.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births, Marriages, Deaths
St John's Church, Macclesfield Marriage Register (FindMyPast)
Census (England & Wales): 1891, 1901, 1911
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Macclesfield Times: 15 February 1918
Macclesfield Courier: 16 February 1918
MH106: WWI Military Hospital Admission and Discharge Registers (Forces War Records): MH106/2001 Medical Records of 31st Ambulance Train, BEF France
Research by Rosie Rowley, Macclesfield.