Today, November 7th 2019, we remember Wilfred Bartrop, who was killed in action on the Western Front with the British Army, losing his life just four days before the Armistice in November 1918.
An outstanding player for the Reds who played in two FA Cup finals for Barnsley before joining Liverpool in the months leading up to the First World War, Bartrop was born in Worksop, Nottinghamshire on 22 November 1887, the first of 13 children raised by timber yard worker Benjamin Bartrop and his wife, Annie.
By the time Bartrop left Barnsley in 1914, he had played 183 league and cup games and scored 17 goals for the club. His performances in both FA Cup runs (1910 and 1912) had been integral to Barnsley’s success and he continued to be held in the highest regard by Reds supporters long after leaving Oakwell.
By the start of 1918, Wilfred had decided to join the British Army as a Gunner in the Royal Field Artillery.
His unit were in positions at Warcoing on 7 November when they came under heavy enemy artillery fire and Bartrop was mortally wounded, dying of his injuries, just four days before the war ended.
If you’d like to delve much deeper into the story behind Wilfred Bartrop you can order a copy of Peter Holland's 2009 book ‘Swifter Than The Arrow’ by using the online link below.
