Name
Walter Valentine Allen
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
18/07/1916
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Battery Sergeant Major
50481
Royal Field Artillery
'A' Battery, 51st Brigade
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
DIVE COPSE BRITISH CEMETERY, SAILLY-LE-SEC
II. B. 5.
France
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Great Yarmouth War Memorial, Norfolk, Ministry of Labour War Memorial, Caxton House, Tothill Street, London
Pre War
Son of Charles Valentine and Elizabeth Thirza/Thalia (nee KETTLEY) ALLEN; husband of Nora (nee GARON) ALLEN of Watford.
His parents married 1879 in the Yeovil, Somerset, district. Charles died 19 April 1927 in Great Yarmouth aged 72; Elizabeth died 20 March 1925 in Gorleston, Norfolk, aged 68.
Walter was born 1882 in Leith, Edinburgh, and married 1913 in the Watford district; they had two children.
On the 1891 Census, a scholar aged 9 he lived in Great Yarmouth, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1901 Census, a Bombardier with the Royal Field Artillery aged 19, he was stationed at the Garrison, Colchester, Essex. On the 1911 Census, a dry and fancy goods dealer aged 29, he lived alone in Great Yarmouth.
Wartime Service
He originally enlisted 8 May 1896 at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, for Long Service (12 years with the Colours) in the Royal Artillery: aged 14, 4’11½” tall, Wesleyan, his next-of-kin his father of Great Yarmouth. He served in the South African War; was promoted Bombardier 4 August 1900, promoted Corporal 3 May 1901, demoted back to Bombardier 28 November 1905, which rank he still held at his discharge 7 May 1908, having completed his 12 years. He then enlisted again in London; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 12 May 1915, and died in the field of wounds received in action.
Additional Information
Unfortunately, Walter’s W.W.1 Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There is an article about Walter in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 12 August 1916.
Walter is possibly the Battery Sgt-Mjr ALLEN commemorated on the Borough Roll of Honour.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
