Name
Walter Alfred Henry Allen
1877
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/02/1919
41
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sapper
WR/250299
Royal Engineers
275th Railway Company
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
MAUBEUGE (SOUS-LE-BOIS) CEMETERY
B. 15
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Shenley Village Memorial
Pre War
Walter Alfred Henry Allen was born in 1877, the son of Joseph and Mary Allen, and was baptised on 9 September 1877 at Shenley. He was one of nine children.
On the 1881 Census the family were living at Shenley, where his father was working as an agricultural labourer.
Walter married Agnes Floyd on 21 May 1899 at St Peter's Church, Highgate Hill, Islington, London. They both gave their address as 9 Salisbury Road. On the 1901 Census they were living at 6 Cathcart Road, St Pancras with his wife's family and had a one year old daughter Florence. who was born on 26 September 1899. Walter was then working as a labourer. Later the same year they had twins Henry and Eliza, born on 17 November 1901. They had moved to 136 Warwick Road, Silver Street, Edmonton by 1911 and he was again working as a general labourer. Prior to enlistment Walter was employed as a rigger by Robert W Blackwell & Co, electric tramway engineers and contractors.
His parents were living at Green Street, Shenley at the time of the 1911 Census and were then listed as pensioners. His widow later lived at 2 Cornwallis Avenue, Bounces Road, Edmonton, N9.
Wartime Service
Walter enlisted on 19 October 1914 in London and was deemed fit for service with the Royal Engineers (275th Railway Company) and initially given the service number 54795, serving as a Sapper. This number was later changed either due to re-numbering or change of unit.
He served at home from 19 October 1914 and was sent to France on 24 December 1914. He died from pneumonia on 22 February 1919 at No. 5 Casualty Clearing Station (then stationed at Mauberge), and is buried at Mauberge (Sous-le-Bois) Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £25 10s and two amounts of pay owing totalling £43 12s 2d. She also received a pension of 13s 9d per week.
Items returned to the widow were; Photos, Letters, Pouch, Purse, Cap Badge, Celluloid Ring, Cards, Razor, Holdall, Toothbrush, Comb and Stub.
He was variously named as Walter Allen, Walter Henry Allen, Walter Alfred Henry Allen or Walter Henry Alfred Allen. These names appearing on various documents during his lifetime.
His younger brother James was also a sapper in the Royal Engineers (180th Tunnelling Company). He survived the war and died in 1971 aged 92.
Acknowledgments
Taff Williams, Brenda Palmer
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