Person

Matthew Heslop was born in Burnhope in 1898, the son of Matthew and Elizabeth Heslop. In June 1916, Matthew, aged 18 years old, enlisted in the Army. He was then living with his parents at 6 Eastwood Row, Burnhope, and working as a putter in the local colliery.

Matthew was not immediately called up to serve but posted to the Army Reserve and continued his work as a miner. In April 1918, however, with a desperate need for replacement soldiers in France, Matthew was finally mobilised. At the beginning of September 1918, 35481 Private Matthew Heslop joined the 2nd Battalion Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment on the Western Front.

On 24 October 1918, Matthew was killed in action and buried in Verchain British cemetery in France. He was 20 years old.

In May 1919, his parents were sent his wallet and photograph that had been found on his body.

For more information:
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/320352/heslop,-matthew/

North East War Memorials Project
http://www.newmp.org.uk/detail.php?contentId=6480

Civil Parish: Lanchester

Birth date: 1898

Death date: 24-Oct-1918

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 6 Eastwood Row, Burnhope, County Durham

Religion: Church of England

Employment: Putter in Burnhope Colliery, County Durham.

Family: Parents: Matthew and Elizabeth Heslop.

Military service:

35481 Private, 2nd Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment.

Medal(s): British War Medal, Victory Medal.

Memorial(s): Verchain British cemetery, Verchain-Maugre, France.
Burnhope Memorial Garden.
Church of St. John the Evangelist, Burnhope

Gender: Male

Contributed by Burnhope War Memorial Research Group. | With additional research by Durham County Record Office.