ALLPORT Thomas

A photograph of Private Allport can be found in Berrow’s Worcester Journal Supplement, Saturday 20th May 1916, available at Worcestershire Archives.

The following information has been researched by Geoff Hill:
On the 1901 Census the Allport family were living at 26 Lower Chestnut Street. On the 1911 Census Thomas Allport aged 16, tinsmith labourer was resident at No.2 Court, St Martins Gate with his widowed mother Jessie, 1 brother and 2 sisters. In 1914 Thomas Allport’s sister, Amelia, married George Firkins who was also killed during the war.

The Medal Roll Index Card for Thomas Allport records that he first entered active service overseas in The Balkans on 15th July 1915.

The eight month campaign in Gallipoli was fought by British, Empire and French forces in an attempt to force Turkey out of the war, to relieve the deadlock of the Western Front in France and Belgium, and to open a supply route to Russia through the Dardanelles and the Black Sea.

The Allies landed on the peninsula on 25th – 26th April 1915. However, due to poor planning by the British and Empire army, and stubborn resistance by the Turks, the Gallipoli campaign stalled and little progress was made towards launching an assault towards Constantinople – the objective of the campaign. The fighting continued during the summer through to August 1915.

Thomas Allport was probably involved in what is known as the Battle of Krithia Vineyard, which opened on 6th August 1915. Originally devised as a diversionary action to deflect Turkish Ottoman attention away from the forthcoming relief landing at Suvla Bay, it developed into a further attack on Krithia (Alcitepe). The attack began with the capture of some of the Turkish trenches before being forced back with heavy casualties. The 4th Worcestershire Regiment was involved in the attacks on Fir Tree Spur. The Turkish counter-attacks continued repeatedly until 9th August and the fighting in the area did not subside until 13th August.