Albert Allen

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.

He was a hawker when he attested in 1915 although other army documents describe him as a labourer.

He enlisted in Nottingham.

Albert had previously served in the 4th Battalion Notts and Derby Regiment but had been discharged medically unfit. He attested on 4 December 1915, a month short of his 31st birthday, and was transferred to the Army Reserve on 5 December. He was mobilized in March 1916 to the Army Service Corps (Remount Depot) and in due course an Army Medical Board found him fit for service overseas. He embarked for France from Southampton on 25 May 1917 and disembarked Le Havre the following day. He was posted to 3 Base Remount Depot on 1 June 1917. Two months later on 17 August he was confined to barracks for three days for 'smoking in the horse lines at stables'. He had a short period of leave from 2 February to 10 February 1918 then on 3 June 1918 the order was signed that he was to be ‘Compulsorily transferred in the interests of the service under AO 204.1916, to the West Riding Regiment for posting to the 1/7th Battalion in the rank of Private, to retain ASC rate of pay.’ Albert suffered gun shot wounds to the (left side) abdomen and died of his injuries in No 10 Casualty Clearing Station on 12 October 1918. He is buried in Bucquoy Road Cemetery Ficheux Cemetery (Grave Reference: III. G. 6.). He qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Nottingham Evening Post notice (abridged), 24 October 1918: ‘Allen. Died of wounds October 12th 1918, Private Albert Allen of West Riding Regiment, age 34. Sister Minnie, sister Sarah, sister Martha, brothers Charlie, Bill, Harry (4 years POW).’ His personal effects of disc, photos, badge, papers, watch (broken), lighter and a cigarette holder were returned to his nominated next of kin, William Allen, at 1 Pear Street, Nottingham, in March 1919. Research Rachel Farrand