- Surnames starting with the letter A. 

William Lynn Allen DSO

Rank:Major
Ship/Rgn/Sqn No:02nd Bn
Name of Rgt or Ship:Border Rgt
Died:28/10/1914Age:43
How Died:Killed in Action
Country of burial:Belgium
Cemetery or Memorial:Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial
Town Memorial:Altrincham
Extra Information:
Born at "West Lynn", Altrincham on the 8th May 1871, the birth being
registered during the June quarter 1871 i the Altrincham R.D. - ref:
8a/181, the son of Bulkeley & Mary Emma Allen (nee Lynn).

1881 Census - "West Lynn", Dunham Road, Dunham Massey.   Son - aged: 9 -
Scholar - born: Timperley.   Head of household - Bulkeley Allen - Married -
aged: 42 - occ: Retired Silk Merchant - born: Cheetham Hill, Manchester.  
Plus 4 siblings, 1 Boarder (Governess) and 3 domestic servants.  His mother
was a lodger at 15 Jackson's Grove, a lodgiing house in North Meols,
Ormskirk, Lancashire.   Lodger - Married - aged: 44 - occ: Surgeon's Wife -
born: Runcorn, Cheshire.  Staying there with one of her daughters. 
[Surgeon's Wife ???].

Educated at Rugby School.

1891 Census - Dunham Road, Dunham Massey.   Son - aged: 17 - occ:
Lieutenant Militia Infantry - born: Dunham Massey.   Head of household -
Bulkeley Allen - Married - aged: 52 - occ: Magistrate - born: Manchester. 
Also - Mary E. Allen - Wife - aged: 53 - born: Runcorn, Cheshire.   Plus 4
siblings and 3 domestic servants.

Married Adeline Miriam Dickinson during the June quarter 1898 in the
Guildford R.D. - ref: 2a/192.   Adeline was born in 1863, the daughter of a
Bank Manager.  They had three children.

1901 Census - Serving in the 1st Battalion, Border Rgt in South Africa.   
His wife - Adeline M. Allen and their son - Bulkeley G.L. Allen were
residing with her widower father at Maybury the Wood, Woking, Surrey. 
Adeline - daughter - Married - aged: 35 - born: Tiverton, Devon and
Bulkeley G.L. - grandson - aged: 1 - born: Altrincham.

1911 Census - Holly Bank, Headley, Hampshire.   Head of household - Married
- aged: 39 - occ: Army Captain - born: Altrincham.   Also - Adeline Miriam
Allen - Wife - aged: 44 - born: Tiverton, Devon.  Plus their son - Esmond
Harcouurt Lynn Allen, aged: 7 and their daugher - Sylvia Pomona Lynn Allen,
aged: 4.  Plus 1 'lady helper'.

Joined the Border Rgt in 1893.   His Regiment was the first to leave for
the war in South Africa and was the last back.    He was present at the
battles of Wlllow Grange, Colenso, Spion Kop, Pieter's Hill, Ladysmith and
Wepener.

According to the Border Regiment Army Lists of 1910 - 1913, he was
appointed as 2nd Lieutenant on the 9th September 1893, to Lieutenant on the
29th July 1896, and to Captain on the 23rd July 1902.  The list stated that
he had already gained his D.S.O.  They were involved in the Siege of
Ladysmith, so this may well be where he gained his D.S.O.  The 1914 list
shows that he has now been promoted to the rank of Major.

Twice Mentioned in Dispatches - Gazetted 10/09/1901 and 29/07/1902    
D.S.O. Award - Gazetted for his services in South Africa on 29/10/1902.

Between 1905 and 1908 he served as the Adjutant at the Discharge Depot,
Gosport.

SDGW states "Killed".   The local newspaper stated that it was believed
that he fell in the present coast battle - WRONG.

From the book - "Menin Gate North" by Paul Chapman.   "About 7.30 pm on the
evening of the 25th October 1914, he was holding a point between the
villages of Kruiseecke and America, about 4.5 miles from Ypres.  For the
previous seven days, with his men, he had been occupying a salient point at
the exteem left of his regiment and his company was badly in need of
reinforcements.  On that particular night about 100 made their way over the
trenches occupied by a neighbouring battalion and appeared in the vicinity
of a farmhouse in the rear of the Borderers.   These men were at first
mistaken for Belgians, but the error was soon realised and they were fired
upon and a considerable number were killed.  Immediately the remainder
signified that they wished to surrender and asked for an English Officer. 
In response, Major Allen left his trench with two men and had hardly
advanced more that a few steps before the enemy treacherously opened fire
and he fell back mortally wounded"

Grandson of Mr. John Allen, Oldfield Hall.

Mentioned in the Guardian Year book of 1915.

Listed in the Guardian Year Book - Roll of Honour for 1916.  Commemorated
on the Rugby School War Memorial.


Memorials found on:
St. Margaret's (Dunham Massey)
Altrincham & District Roll of Honour
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