Daprato,+E

Sapper, 506 Field Coy. Royal Engineers. Service No: 1948337. Age: 24. Died 25th April 1944. Husband of Annie Daprato, of Keighley, Yorkshire. KOHIMA WAR CEMETERY, Plot 3. Row C. Grave 27.
 * Edward Daprato**

Edward Daprato a.k.a.Edward Fish Husband of Annie Daprato, 35 Oakworth Rd, Keighley. Prior to enlistment he was employed by Messrs Smith Peach & Co, and was a prominent cyclist and held several records. He had been in the army for three years, two of which were abroad See Keighley News, 27th May 1944 (Photo) and Keighley News 19 June 1944 (Photo) Commemorated on the St. Joseph's R.C. Church Memorial. An officer writing home to his family gave the following account :-

"At the time we only had small forces in the area and were hanging on to a hill, grimly repulsing attack after attack by night from the Japanese, They succeeded in throwing us out of some of our forward positions and had occupoed the trenches, using them to fire against us. Owing to heavy casualties, we had to withdraw to hold a smaller perimeter which meant that trenches were left in front of our positions unoccupied. These the enemy would undoubtedly have occupied had not party of sappers gone out to blow them in with explosives. For this dangerous operation Sapper Daprato was one of the first to volunteer. The party knew it would be under fire, so they left at dusk. The enemy however were close to shoot accurately, and Sapper Daprato was sniped just after he had fired his explosive charge. The explosion of the charge would have killed him instantly even if he was not dead from the snipers shot. By his gallantry, and that of those other volunteers, many lives were saved. The operation was successfuly carried out, the garrison later strenthened and the enemy is now on the defensive. Sapper Daprato was always the first to undertake any difficult and dangerous job and his cheerful willingness was an inspiration to us all. His grave is well cared for, clean and tidy, and the men of his section have put up a fine plain cross for him"