Name
James Berry Allen
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/09/1916
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
23452
The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment
9th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 11A.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Bushey Memorial, Clay Hill, St James’ Church Memorial, Bushey, St Paul's Church Memorial, Bushey
Pre War
Born in 1888 and baptised a St Mary’s, Watford on 7 November, James Berry Allen was the youngest son of Joseph, a railway labourer, and Emma (née King) Allen. His parents were possibly married on 25 December 1877 at St James’, Bushey. Joseph died 1890 in the Watford district, age 31, and Emma died in 1934, age 74.
His parents possibly married 25 December 1877 at St James’, Bushey. Joseph died 1890 in the Watford district aged 31 and was buried 19 March at St Mary’s, Watford; Emma died 1934 in the St Alban’s district aged 74.
At the 1891 Census, they were living at Fitz Place, Bushey and the family included; Emma (a widow age 34), William (a scholar, age 10), Mary Ann (age 8), Emma (age 6), Clara (age 5) and James Berry (age 3). Also living there were three orphans; Thomas Evans (a labourer, age 20), Noah (a labourer, age 18) and Edith (a laundry maid, age 16).
Whilst rest of the family had left home by the time of the 1901 Census, 12-year-old James, his 20-year-old brother (William) and their now widowed mother had moved to 6, Crook Log, Bushey. Emma was working as a laundress and William as a bricklayer’s labourer.
Wartime Service
James attested at Watford on 9 December 1915 for Short Service (Duration of the War), initially serving as Private 26253 with the Bedfordshire Regiment. He was still living at 6 Crook Log and was working as a gardener’s labourer. He was aged 27, 5’5″ tall, C of E, unmarried, of Bushey, Herts. His next-of-kin was his mother of St Alban’s, Herts.
He was based in England from 9 December 1915 to 30 June 1916, but mobilised on 12 February 1916 and then transferred to the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment on 26 June 1916 and in France from 1 July 1916
He was posted as missing 3 September 1916, subsequently confirmed killed in action on that date.
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals, which were sent to his sister of Watford.
He is remembered with honour at the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing and also commemorated on the Bushey memorial, at St James’ Church and at St Paul’s.
Sadly, there is more. His pension record card shows his mother as his dependant, living at 29, Park Road, Bushey. His service record is also still largely intact and includes a letter, dated 30 April 1921, from Dr Harry Gomme to the L N Lancs. This says “I am very sorry to inform you that owing to her losing two sons in the war she is now residing at The Mental Asylum, Hill End, St Albans. My wife, the eldest daughter of the family as her brothers….and if there is any letters and medals to come, they should be sent to the above address and kept safely for the mother if she should ever come out of the asylum”. [James’ sister, Mary Ann, was married to Dr Gomme and they were living at 3a Loates Lane, Watford].
Additional Information
There is a Death announcement for James in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 9 December 1916. His older brother, William Thomas Allen, was also killed in action in 1918 and also features on Watford Borough Roll of Honour.
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
