Branch of Service

Army

Conflict

World War I (1914-1918)

Date of Enlistment

20/09/1915

Date of Discharge

04/08/1919

Place of Enlistment

Sydney NSW

Gender

Male

Place of Birth

Melbourne, Victoria

Address (at enlistment)

Darlinghurst NSW (previously Duntroon ACT)

Occupation

Plumber

Next of Kin

Ellen Allen (mother), Brunswick, Victoria

Service Number

2808

Final Rank

Sapper

Final Unit

13 Field Company Engineers AIF

Military Medal (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: 11 December 1919)

The citation reads: "For continuous gallantry and devotion to duty on the morning of 18/9/18 during the advance near Le Verguier this soldier was in charge of a reconnoitering party detached to bring information of the country in the Vergiuer sector in which the enemy had just been driven. In spite of heavy shelling and machine gun fire during the counter attack he kept his party together and thoroughly explored the area bringing in much valuable information about the water supply and enemy R.E. dumps. These were thus made available immediately to our troops who were occupying the evacuated positions".

Allen was a plumber originally from Melbourne but who was living in Canberra from mid 1912. He was a member of the Federal City football club in 1912 and played cricket for the Department of Home Affairs. Allen served initially with the 7th Field Company Engineers but transferred to the 14th Field Company Engineers in March 1916 whilst in Egypt. He arrived in France in June 1916 and served at Fromelles in July. He also served with the 8th and 15th Field Company Engineers until joining the 13th Field Company Engineers in October 1917 after the Battle of Polygon Wood. Allen was wounded during the Battle of Dernancourt in April 1918 and awarded the Military Medal for his actions on 18 September 1918 during the advance near Le Verguier (near St. Quentin). He returned to Australia in June 1919 and was discharged two months later. He died in Sydney in 1955.

Description - height 5 feet 6 inches, weight 140 pounds, chest 34 inches, fair complexion, blue eyes, brown hair, Church of England.

NAA RecordSearch - Series B2455 (First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920)
NSW Births, Deaths & Marriages - http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/familyHistory/search.htm
Queanbeyan Age - 30 August 1912, 13 October 1916
AWM Honours & Awards