Name
William Allen
1874
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
05/05/1915
39
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
3/7752
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 31 and 33.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
St Lawrence Church Memorial, Bovingdon, Memorial Plaque, Memorial Hall, Bovingdon, St Mary Magdalene Church Roll of Honour, Flaunden, Not on the Watford memorials
Pre War
William Allen was born in 1874 in Bovingdon, Hertfordshire the second son of Henry Allen, a labourer, and Isabella (nee Mason). On the 1881 Census William along with his Father, Mother, elder brother Harry and younger sisters Emily and Jane were living at Tower Hill, Kings Langley. On the 1891 Census William was working as an agricultural labourer on Collingham Farm, Bovingdon, employed by Mr Baldwin. William’s family were living at the Street, King’s Langley with the addition of Charles, Mary and Flora. On the 1911 Census William was working as a Woodsman and lodging with the Robinson Family in Flaunden.
William attested for the Militia on 5 Mar 1894 as Private 2793 in 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. He was among 300 officer and men who volunteered for service in South Africa on 16 Jan 1900 returning to UK in Jun 1902. He was discharged as time expired on 4 Mar 1904.
Officially recorded as born in Flaunden and was living in Watford when he enlisted in Hertford,
Wartime Service
William volunteered in 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 3/7752, in Aug/Sep 1914 soon after War was declared and he was posted on 11 Nov 1914 to 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, who had been in France & Flanders since late Aug 1914.
The Battalion was engaged in operations at Ypres. The Battalion were defending Hill 60 and heavy fighting was taking place on 5 May 1915 after an attempt to shorten their trench had been observed by the enemy who launched attacks with Gas and Artillery. During this fighting William was killed.
His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Menin Gate, Ypres.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 was paid to his mother and arrears of £20 5s 10d was distributed among his Mother, Siblings and Watford Union Guardians.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper, Brenda Palmer
Malcolm Lennox, Dick West
