Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Taylor Heslop born at Pontop, Headley Hill, County Durham in 1879 was the eldest of 2 sons, His father Robert Heslop born at Allendale, Northumberland, where he was baptised October 8th 1849, married in 1878, Margaret Young of Sacristan, County Durham, born 1859. They had settled by 1881 at 2, Headley Hill Terrace, Brandon, where Robert was employed as a coal miner, living with them and 1-year-old John were Margaret’s brothers Taylor and Edward Young, 27 and 16 years of age respectively, also employed as miners. At the time Margaret was pregnant with their second child who was born the 3rd quarter (Jul/Aug/Sep) 1881 during which unfortunately her husband Robert, only 31 years of age, died, the child, a son was named Robert Jnr. after his father. Margaret Heslop nee Young also died very young, only 27 years of age in 1886, John Taylor was only 7 years old his brother 5. It was their uncle Taylor Young who took care of them, he and they in 1901 were living at South Pontop, Greencroft. John (22) is listed as head of the household employed as a coal miner, Robert (19) a pony driver/putter.
In 1902 John Taylor Heslop was married in the district of Lanchester to Annie Turner born 1884 at Leadgate, County Durham and with whom he had 6 children, Archibald 1903, Florrie 1905, Robert 1907, Margaret 1910, Mary Ann 1912 and Lily 1914. In 1911 they were living at 15, Derwent Terrace, Annfield Plain along with Annie’s widowed father John Turner and her sister Margaret Jane (20). John as the only breadwinner supported them all employed at South Pontop Colliery as a coal hewer.
He left his employment on the outbreak of war, one of the first to enlist at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, assigned as Private 325, 20th (Tyneside Scottish) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. The battalion was initially trained at Newcastle before being moved to Alnwick camp in the grounds of Alnwick castle, Northumberland, January 29th 1915. Transferred to Ripon in June 1915 they were attached to the 102nd Brigade, 34th Division, later moved to Salisbury Plain for final preparations they departed in January 1916 for the Western Front as part of the British Expeditionary Force. Once landed in France they concentrated at La Crosse east of St. Omer where their training in trench warfare began in earnest.
The 34th Division moved in June 1916 to the Somme in preparations for the opening battle due to commence June 29th, however, this was delayed by bad weather until July 1st. At 7.28 a.m. July 1st 1916 two huge mines were detonated in the explosive packed tunnels under the German lines, one to the north, the other to the south of the village of La Boisselle, near Albert. The 20th Battalion had 500 yards to cross under machine gun fire before reaching the German lines, 26 Officers and 564 men lost their lives, they successfully captured Scots and Sausage Redoubts.
Private 325 John Taylor Heslop Northumberland Fusiliers was one of those killed in action July 1st 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,337 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating servicemen from Britain and South Africa who died in the sector before March 20th 1918 and have no known grave. Private Heslop was 37 years of age.
His widow Annie received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the British War medal and Victory Medal sent to her at the address of 8, Fairview Terrace, Annfield Plain, County Durham. Annie Heslop nee Turner did not remarry, she died in the district of Lanchester aged 84 years in 1968.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John Taylor Heslop is remembered at Greencroft on G54.01 and at Annfield Plain on A38.01 and A38.11
