WW1 Casualty: Private 1416 Henry Allen - Private 1416 Henry Allen
| Unit/Regiment |
1st/5th Bn., South Lancashire Regiment |
| Date of Death |
10/05/1915 |
Age at Death |
22 |
Burial/Memorial
& Reference |
Menin Gate
Panel 37 |
| CWGC Family Details (if shown) |
Son of John Allen, of 119, Kemble St., Prescot, Lancs. |
| Census Details |
1901 Census -
Henry Allen, aged 7, son of John (28) and Kate (23), lived at 2, Taylors Court, Prescot.
1911 Census -
John Allen (40) and his 32 year old wife Catherine, lived at 119, Kemble Street, Prescot with their children Henry (17), Mary (7), Elizabeth (5), Annie (2) and Margaret (4 months). Also present was 55 year old Boarder, Patrick Dowd |
| SDGW - Where Born |
Prescot, Lancs |
| Enlisted |
Prescot |
| How Died |
Killed In Action |
Theatre of War |
France & Flanders |
| Research Ref. No. |
P004 |
Service DetailsHenry Allen joined the Territorials before the war, attesting to the South Lancashire Regiment for 4 years at Prescot on January 31st 1911. At the time he was aged 17, single and was working as a Labourer whilst living at 119, Kemble Street, Prescot.
He stood 5 foot 4 and a half inches in height, had a 34 inch chest with two inches of expansion and was classed as being in 'Good' physical condition and therefore fit for military service and assigned to the 5th Battalion of the Regiment. He weighed 151 pounds. As part of his Territorial Service, he was required to attend annual camp and his records show that he did so in 1911, 1912 and 1913.
The 5th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment, had just started its annual training in camp when war broke out in August 1914. It was sent to Edinburgh until October, then moved to Tunbridge Wells until February 1915. It was then ordered to France, sailing on the 13th aboard s.s. King Edward. Arriving at Le Havre the same day. These details are shown in Henry Allen's service record; at St Helens from 5th to 13th August 1914, Edinburgh Castle until 10th October 1914 then Tunbridge Wells until embarkation for the British Expeditionary Force in France on 12th February 1915.
Over the next few days the battalion marched to billets at Le Bizet, and then undertook instruction in trench warfare. The system was for companies from a battalion to be attached to other battalions for spells in the line, before the sector was allocated to the battalion on its own. In addition to the trench duty, the battalion undertook its share of pioneer work and training in rapid fire.
The Battalion was moved around regularly without seeing action, until 28th April when it was moved to Vlamertinghe, Belgium in readiness to take part in the 1st Battle of Ypres, which had started on the 22nd.
On 2nd May, the Germans launched a violent attack, accompanied by a cloud of chlorine gas, and the battalion was moved into the line for the first time. On 3rd May, it was moved to the new line in front of Wieltje, and then on the 4th it was again moved to Shell Trap Farm. At dawn, they engaged the Germans but by 4pm the enemy was within 400 yards of the British lines, from where they began a heavy bombardment of the British.
More shell fire continued through the next day, culminating in heavy concentrated fire about 5 p.m. which resulted in a considerable number of men being buried, many of them killed and wounded. The enemy fire continued until midnight and four attempts were made by the Germans to take the farm, but all were repulsed.
At 2 a.m. on the 6th, the Battalion was relieved and moved to La Brique, having incurred considerable casualties.
On the 8th May, the battalion was once more sent up to the Wieltje sector as it was thought that the enemy had broken through, but it proved to be a false alarm and on the 9th it returned to La Brique, leaving 'C' Company and a machine-gun detachment at Wieltje. Early on the 10th, the battalion moved to the bank of the Yser canal where it remained until the 13th, when it was moved back to the support lines.
Henry Allen's Casualty Form records that he was wounded in action whilst serving in the field on 10th May 1915, presumably in action around the canal, with a further notation that he is 'Missing'. This suggests that one of his colleagues saw him wounded at some point in the action but that when Roll Call was taken later, he did not respond.
A newspaper item from the Prescot Reporter (Courtesy of Ste M)
The Casualty Form was further updated on 16th May 1916, by which time he had been classed as missing for a year and a day, and he was now recorded as having died 'on or since 10/5/15' for official purposes. His next of kin are shown as his father John and mother Catherine Allen of 119, Kemble Street.
An extract from the Casualty Form, showing the declaration of death.
On 30th June 1916, the War Office wrote to the Records Officer at Fulwood Barracks in Preston, requesting that all personal property and effects of the late Private Allen were to be sent to his father, Mr. John Allen.
His body was never identified and he is remembered on the Menin Gate. His medal entitlement was the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
A report from the Manchester Evening News reporting Henry Allen as Wounded and Missing
Private Allen's inscription on the Menin Gate (above) with a close up (below)
Henry Allen's Medal Index Card
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