Eric Allsop who was at the school from 1935-40 has recently been awarded France’s highest award, the Legion d’Honneur. He is one of a number of British ex-servicemen to be honoured in this way because they are veterans of the D-Day landings and the subsequent critical and bitterly contested campaign in Normandy leading ultimately to the liberation of Europe. The Order was established by the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 and British veterans have been eligible for this prestigious award since 2014
Early on the morning of 6th June 1944 Sapper E. Allsop of the Royal Engineers was one of the first men ashore on Juno Beach, as Canadian forces assaulted the Normandy coast. His task was to defuse mines attached to the tank traps and make the beach safe for the following infantry and armoured units.
Eric Allsop served throughout the 1944-45 campaign in North West Europe, came home to Sheffield, became well known in local cricket circles, captained the Old Edwardians Cricket XI and still lives within a mile of King Edward VII School.
During the Sheffield Blitz in December1940 when Eric Allsop was still at school, he ran messages on his bicycle for the ARP and for three hours helped to put out fires and rescue people from bombed houses while the bombs were still falling. Then, when he finally got home to Nether Edge he found his own home had been seriously damaged by a German bomb. For his fortitude that night he was presented with a special commendation by King George VI himself.
Early on the morning of 6th June 1944 Sapper E. Allsop of the Royal Engineers was one of the first men ashore on Juno Beach, as Canadian forces assaulted the Normandy coast. His task was to defuse mines attached to the tank traps and make the beach safe for the following infantry and armoured units.
Eric Allsop served throughout the 1944-45 campaign in North West Europe, came home to Sheffield, became well known in local cricket circles, captained the Old Edwardians Cricket XI and still lives within a mile of King Edward VII School.
During the Sheffield Blitz in December1940 when Eric Allsop was still at school, he ran messages on his bicycle for the ARP and for three hours helped to put out fires and rescue people from bombed houses while the bombs were still falling. Then, when he finally got home to Nether Edge he found his own home had been seriously damaged by a German bomb. For his fortitude that night he was presented with a special commendation by King George VI himself.
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