Alsop*, Claude Simpson

ALSOP, CLAUDE SIMPSON

BORN 18 JANUARY 1890

Claude Simpson Alsop was born in Bristol on 18 January 1890, the son of Uriah Henry Alsop (b 1865 in Bristol) and Agnes Henderson (née Simpson b 1865). Uriah and Agnes were married on 14 June 1888, though records show Agnes died shortly after the birth of Claude; Uriah went on to have two further marriages.

On 5 August 1891, in Portsea, Uriah married Edith Ada (née Angear, b 1867 in Devon) and had two children: Dorothy Almira Edith in 1893 and Ernest Henry Angear in 1894. However records indicate Edith died in Bristol in 1896.

On 6 August 1900 Uriah married Rosa Caroline, (née Powell, b 1874 in Bristol). Two sons were born: Kenneth Stuart in 1904 and Cyril John in 1907.

Claude entered the Shell form of the School on 18 September 1900 aged 10 and left in December 1902. His father was a manufacturer and the family lived at 2 Archfield Road, Cotham. Claude then attended Colston’s School from 1903 - 1907, leaving aged 17. In 1911, now a drapery assistant, he was living with his family in Rodney Hall, Filton, Bristol.

Passenger lists suggest that in March 1914, aged 24, Claude travelled from Liverpool to Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. His occupation was recorded as Carter.

Whilst living at 298 Grey Street, London, Ontario, he enlisted in the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force on 28 May 1915. Andrew Simpson has researched a number of servicemen that served with the CEF. His blog gives more detail about Claude’s war service.

After enlisting he left for Europe in March 1916 as a Private in the Canadian Infantry, Eastern Ontario Regiment, 2nd Battalion. He received a shell wound to his right shoulder in France on 18 June and was transferred to the 2nd Western General Hospital in Manchester.

Whilst being treated for the shell wound, Claude suddenly haemorrhaged from a lung and died in the Royal Infirmary on 25 July 1916, aged 26. He was buried in Manchester Southern Cemetery.

During the Great War there were between thirty and forty war hospitals in the Manchester area and many of those servicemen that died in these hospitals are buried in the cemeteries in Manchester.

The probate details of his will confirms he left everything to his half-sister Almira Dorothy Alsop, which amounted to £1417.