Name
William Thomas Allen
13/04/1918
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/04/1918
37
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
10881
London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers)
2nd (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MERVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
I. E. 47.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Bushey Memorial, Clay Hill,
St James' Church, Bushey,
Not on the Watford memorials
Pre War
Born in about 1881 in Watford and baptised 6 April 1881 at
St Mary’s, Watford. William Thomas Allen was the eldest son of Joseph, a
railway labourer, and Emma (née King) Allen of Bushey, Herts. His parents were
possibly married on 25 December 1877 at St James’, Bushey. Joseph died in 1890
in the Watford district, age 31.
His parents
married 25 December 1877 at St James’. Bushey.
Joseph died 1890 in Watford aged 31, and was buried 19 March at St Mary’s,
Watford; Emma died 1934 in the St Alban’s, Herts, district.
When he was
about eight years old, his father died and his mother moved from Watford Fields
to 6 Crook Log, one in a row of small cottages on the London Road in Bushey.
She worked as a laundress and William was later employed as a bricklayer’s
labourer and lived at home.
On the 1881
Census, aged 1 month he lived in Watford Fields, with his parents and one
sibling. 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, 20-year-old William,
his 12-year-old brother James and their mother had moved to 6, Crook Log,
Bushey. Emma was working as a laundress and William as a bricklayer’s labourer.
William married
Harriet Whitfield in 1905 from Bushey and, at the time of the 1911 Census, they
were living at 144 Bushey High Street with 2 children, James (age 4) and Helen
(age 2). William was a roadman for Herts County Council William and Harriet
subsequently had three more children; Anne, Emma and Albert.
Officially recorded as born in Watford and
living in Bushey when he enlisted in Watford.
Wartime Service
William enlisted as Private 10881 with the 2nd battalion of the Royal Fusiliers. He was killed in action on 13 April 1918, aged 37. He is remembered with honour at Merville Communal Cemetery Extension in France and commemorated on the Bushey Memorial and at St James’ Church.
His younger brother, James Berry Allen, was also killed in action on 3 September 1916. James’ service record is 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”.
He was entitled to the Victory and British War medals.
Additional Information
His younger brother, James Berry Allen, was also killed in action on 3 September 1916.
After his death his wife moved to 33 Clay Hill, Bushey.
His pension record shows a Grant of £5 was paid to his wife Harriet on 06/08/19 and a pension of 37/11 per week from 23/12/18. Dates of birth are given for the children as James (10/11/06); Helen May (13/03/09); Annie (02/05/12); Emma (11/10/14) and Albert Edward (15/07/17).
His brother James died 3 September 1916 and also features on this Roll of Honour
Information provided with the kind permission of Bushey First World War Commemoration Project – Please visit www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk.
Acknowledgments
Andrew Palmer
Dianne Payne - www.busheyworldwarone.org.uk, Jonty Wild, Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH online via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
