GALLOP, Cyril

Cyril Gallop was the son of Gilbert D'Arcy Gallop and Edith Margaret, nee Marfleet. He had one brother, Rollo D'Arcy Gallop, who enlisted using the name Robert. Cyril Gallop was born on September 24, 1895, but when he enlisted, he slightly altered his age; instead of being  18 years and 11 months old, he claimed to be nineteen and one month, presumably so that he didn't need written parental permission to join. he had already had military experience, having served in the 31st Battery of the Citizens Military Force and was living at 140 Clarendon St., East Melbourne, and working as a clerk/ He enlisted on 17 August, 1914, and after training was attached to the newly formed th Battery of the 2nd Field Artillery Brigade as a driver.  The Brigade embarked for Egypt on on 20 October, 1914, on board HMAT Shropshire A9. 

The 2nd FAB had been formed in August 1914 and was one of three units of 18 Pounder British Field Guns supporting the 1st Division infantry at Gallipoli. However, the  rough and hilly terrain of the Gallipoli Peninsula merant there was a lack of firing positions and they forced to deploy them singly. Along with the other ANZAC troops, they were withdrawn in December, 1915. Cyril Gallop was suffering from jaundice and probably left ahead of the other troops. On 4 December, he was at the 27th ASH in Mudros, havng previously been in Lemnos. He was in good health again by January and left Mudros for Alexandria on board HMS Caledonia on 6 January, 1916 before leaving with the other troops for France and the Western Front in March. It is difficult to trace his movements from there, but the artillery brigades were at every major battle in support of  the infantry in the trenches. His record states that he was promoted to temporary Bombardier in 27 October, so he was taking part in the Third Battle of Ypres to push the Germans back to the Hindenburg Line. It was here that he behaved with such great courage that he was awarded the Miltary Medal.

The Argus of 19 July, 1918, published the following information:

Gallop: Driver (temporarily Bombardier) Cyril, eldest son of Mr. D.G. Gallop of Portalington has been awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous bravery in the field. Driver Cyril saw service in Gallipoli and then went to France. His younger brother Robert is also on active service.

Cyril Gallop was promoted to Bombardier on 1 February, 1918, but was not in full health. In November, 1917, he had been treated for gastric problems and on 20 December, was admitted to hospital with Enteritis. On 25 January, 1918, he was given leave in the UK, rejoining his Brigade on 9 February. On 31 March, 1918, he was wounded in the field, but continued at his post. There is another gap in his record, but he is shown as being at Taranto, Italy, on 23 August, 1918, embarking for Australia on board the Port Sydney, disembarking in Melbourne on 2 December, 1918.

He returned to private life and was married to Flora Jasper McLeod on June 13, 1923. They had one child, Brian D'Arcy Gallop. They moved to Tongala, Victoria, where he worked as a draughtsman. In 1936, he was a Works Superintendant at Red Cliffs. In 1943, Cyril and Flora 'Flo' Gallop lived at Kinny St., Boort, where he was a District Officer. By 1949, they had moved again, back to Tongala, where Cyril was again, a District Officer. In the 1960s, the family were living at 10 Mitchell ST., Caulfield, with Cyril writing ot the military authorities requesting that he be issued with a Gallipoli medal. Flora died on 20 February 1974 and by 1980, Cyril was living with his son, Brian and wife, Daphne, at Miners' Creek Cardinia. He died at Heidelberg, perhaps at the Repatriation Hospital, on August 16, 1980, and his ashes were scattered at Springvale Cemetery.