Albert was born about 1885, the son of Maude Allen. In 1891 his widowed mother, who was 39 years old, was living at 13 Cross Court, Sneinton; her occupation was given as hawker. Five children were living with her: William (19), Thomas (18), Harry (10), Albert (7) and Minnie (1). There are records of three other siblings, Charles (b. abt 1875), Martha (b. abt 1887) and Sarah Ann (b. abt 1895). Thomas does not appear on the list of blood relatives completed for the army after Albert's death and so it is likely that he died fairly young.
Mauda, her husband and most of her children have not yet been traced on other census returns. However, it would seem that Martha lived permanently with an aunt and uncle, John and Rebecca Dutton, also of Sneinton, as she appears on the 1891 and 1901 census returns for their household. Minnie was lodging with a family in Bulwell at the time of the 1911 census when she was 20 years old. In 1901, when he was 17 years old, Albert was probably one of 17 lodgers in a lodging house at 15 Red Lion Street, Nottingham, although by the time he attested in 1915 he was living at 1 Pear Street, Sussex Street, Nottingham, with his brother, William. All this information suggests that Mauda might have been unable to support or care for all her children after she was widowed or that she died in early middle age leaving her children without a family home.
Details from a statement of living blood relatives provided for the army after Albert's death:
Brothers: William Allen (48), 1 Pear Street, Sussex Street, Nottingham. Charles Allen (44), 5 May Terrace, Sherbrook Road, Nottingham. Harry Allen (38), 14 Rancliffe Hill, Sussex Street, Nottingham. Sisters: Martha Allen (31), (-) Street, Nottingham. Minnie Allen (27), 5 May Terrace, Sherbrook Road, Nottingham. Sarah Ann Allen (24), Henry Place, Keswick Street, Nottingham.
Albert's brother, Harry, served in the war and was a prisoner of war for 4 years.