Name
William Allen
1878
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/01/1915
36
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Staff Serjeant
30495
Royal Field Artillery
24th Bde.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CITE BONJEAN MILITARY CEMETERY, ARMENTIERES
IX. A. 25.
France
Headstone Inscription
THOUGH LOST TO SIGHT TO MEMORY DEAR
UK & Other Memorials
Borehamwood Town Memorial, All Saints Church Memorial, Borehamwood
Pre War
William Allen was born in 1878, in Pimlico, London/Middlesex, son of George Allan, a Police Constable and Harriet Allen. He was the second of three sons.
1881 Census records William aged 3, living with his parents, and brothers George A. (4), and Robert A. (1), in Borehamwood, Herts.
His mother Harriet died between 1881 and 1887. His father George remarried in the early part of 1887, to Sarah Winn, in Barnet, Herts.
1891 Census records William aged 13, at school, living with his father, stepmother and his two brothers in Drayton Road, Borehamwood, Herts.
His father George retired from the Police Force on 25 February 1897, he died the following year, aged 48.
We found no trace of William after the 1891 Census. It is believed he enlisted in the Army.
Wartime Service
The only military record found was his medal card which records him as “30495, Saddler, Staff Sargent, William Allen”, of the Royal Field Artillery, arriving in France on 11 September 1914. His brother George A. Allen requested his medals, George’s address was given as 3 Junction Street, Burnley Barracks, Burnley, Lancashire.
William was Killed in Action, some four months later, on 28 January 1915, aged 36. He is buried in the CWGC Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, France.
Additional Information
His elder brother, Mr. G. A. Allen, 3. Junction Street, Burnley Bks., Lancs., ordered his headstone inscription: "THOUGH LOST TO SIGHT TO MEMORY DEAR". His effects of £25-17s-8d, Pay Owing was split between his brothers George and Robert. His War Gratuity of £8, went to his brother George. His stepmother Sarah Allen received a dependents pension of 2/6 a week for life from 9 January 1917, her address was given as 3, Jubilee Cottages, Drayton Road, Borehamwood, Herts. Sarah died in April 1926, aged 81.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild,
