Name
Harold Sidney Allen
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/10/1918
19
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
136965
Machine Gun Corps (Infantry)
18th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
HIGHLAND CEMETERY, LE CATEAU
I. A. 7.
France
Headstone Inscription
DEAREST SID GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
UK & Other Memorials
Wheathampstead Village Memorial, Ind Plaque St Helen's Church, Wheathampstead
Pre War
Harold Sidney was born in1899 (baptised 30 Jul 1899) in Wheathampstead to George Allen, a groom domestic, and Martha Jane (nee Tidd).
On the 1901 Census Sidney was living with his parents, older brothers William George (born 1894), Francis Edward (born 1895), Walter J (born 1898), and Cecil E (born 1901) at Brewhouse Hill, Wheathampstead. On the 1911 Census at the same address Sidney was at school, Francis was working as a Baker’s Assistant, and there had been the addition of a daughter Mary (born 1911). William G is not listed.
Wartime Service
Sidney enlisted in the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry) as Private 136965. His service record could not found.
The 18th Machine Gun Battalion was formed in 15 Feb 1918 when the new arrived (from England, 13 Feb 1918) 53, 54 & 55 Machine Gun Companies were merged to form the Machine Gun component of 18 (Eastern Division). The Division was involved in the Final Advances and it was during these actions that Sidney was killed in action.
There some confusion in records as to the date of his death, 20 Oct, 22 Oct and 26 Oct being recorded.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £5 and arrears of £7 12s 5d was paid to his father. His brother Francis Edward served in Hertfordshire Regiment and was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in 1/5 York & Lancaster Regiment and was killed in action 11 Apr 1918.
CWGC records his date of death as 20th October, but his plaque in St Helens Church, Wheathampstead, gives the 19th.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
