2nd Lt
William Frederick Allen
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1893 |
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Place of birth: Bermuda, United States of America |
Army information
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Country: Verenigd Koninkrijk |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Second Lieutenant |
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Units: — East Lancashire Regiment, 3rd Bn. attd. 2nd/4th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 09/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Tyne Cottage, Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 24 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XXVII Row: A Grave: 4 |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Frederick William Allen was born around 1893 in Bermuda, an overseas territory under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom in the Atlantic Ocean. Frederick enlisted in the British Army during World War I. He served in the 3rd Reserve Battalion 2nd/4th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment (198th Brigade, 66th (2nd East Lancashire) Division).
William died on 9 October 1917, at the same time as the Battle of Poelkapelle began. This battle marked a turning point in the Battle of Passchendaele. Dry weather enabled British, Australian and New Zealand units to advance, supported by artillery bombardment. In early October, however, the weather turned bad again and the ground began to turn into a swamp. Nevertheless, the above units were ordered to attack, trying to advance 2 km towards the German defences, capturing the Passchendaele ridge. Before the troops could reach their starting positions, many were exhausted by the many kilometres of plodding in the mud. Most attacking units were eventually driven back to their starting positions that same day. Only near the villages of Veldhoek and Poelkapelle was there any success.
The 66th Division attacked with 2 brigades: the 197th Brigade and the 198th Brigade. The latter attacked with the 2/9th Battalion Manchester Regiment and 2/4th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment. The 2/5th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment served in support and the 2/10th Battalion Manchester Regiment served as a reserve battalion.
The brigade attacked at 5.20 am from their starting positions, which were located between Hamburg Farm and Waterfields. The 197th Brigade attacked immediately, while the 198th Brigade prepared to fill any gaps on the right, created by the 197th Brigade having to stay on the Ypres-Roulers railway. The Brigade's 2/9th Battalion had to take the first objective. This objective was the line between Heine Mouse, Augustus Wood, Waterfields and then on towards Marsh Bottom. The 2/4th and 2/5th Battalions were to take the second objective. This objective was a line from east of Haalen Copse and Deck Wood towards Haalen Copse and on to Friesland Copse. Posts were established about 100 yards before the second objective.
The 2/4th Battalion was to stand on the right and was to attack on two company fronts. The C Company was to attack on the right, with the A Company in support. The D Company was to attack on the left front, with the B Company in support. Between the attacking battalions, the 2/4th and the 2/5th, there was a dividing line, running from the east of Waterfields towards the south of Haalen Copse and further towards the north-west of Haalen Copse.The battalion had to take charge of clearing its own area.
The Battle of Poelkapelle caused many casualties: among the officers, 6 were wounded and 4 killed. Among the other ranks, the battle also caused many casualties, including Frederick. His body was found near Tyne Cottage, close to Tyne Cot Cemetery (Plot XXVII, Row A, Grave 4) the place where he was later reburied.
William died on 9 October 1917, at the same time as the Battle of Poelkapelle began. This battle marked a turning point in the Battle of Passchendaele. Dry weather enabled British, Australian and New Zealand units to advance, supported by artillery bombardment. In early October, however, the weather turned bad again and the ground began to turn into a swamp. Nevertheless, the above units were ordered to attack, trying to advance 2 km towards the German defences, capturing the Passchendaele ridge. Before the troops could reach their starting positions, many were exhausted by the many kilometres of plodding in the mud. Most attacking units were eventually driven back to their starting positions that same day. Only near the villages of Veldhoek and Poelkapelle was there any success.
The 66th Division attacked with 2 brigades: the 197th Brigade and the 198th Brigade. The latter attacked with the 2/9th Battalion Manchester Regiment and 2/4th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment. The 2/5th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment served in support and the 2/10th Battalion Manchester Regiment served as a reserve battalion.
The brigade attacked at 5.20 am from their starting positions, which were located between Hamburg Farm and Waterfields. The 197th Brigade attacked immediately, while the 198th Brigade prepared to fill any gaps on the right, created by the 197th Brigade having to stay on the Ypres-Roulers railway. The Brigade's 2/9th Battalion had to take the first objective. This objective was the line between Heine Mouse, Augustus Wood, Waterfields and then on towards Marsh Bottom. The 2/4th and 2/5th Battalions were to take the second objective. This objective was a line from east of Haalen Copse and Deck Wood towards Haalen Copse and on to Friesland Copse. Posts were established about 100 yards before the second objective.
The 2/4th Battalion was to stand on the right and was to attack on two company fronts. The C Company was to attack on the right, with the A Company in support. The D Company was to attack on the left front, with the B Company in support. Between the attacking battalions, the 2/4th and the 2/5th, there was a dividing line, running from the east of Waterfields towards the south of Haalen Copse and further towards the north-west of Haalen Copse.The battalion had to take charge of clearing its own area.
The Battle of Poelkapelle caused many casualties: among the officers, 6 were wounded and 4 killed. Among the other ranks, the battle also caused many casualties, including Frederick. His body was found near Tyne Cottage, close to Tyne Cot Cemetery (Plot XXVII, Row A, Grave 4) the place where he was later reburied.
Sources 3
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2/4 Battalion East Lancashire Regiment war diary (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/3141/3). http://nationalarchives.gov.uk Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), p.122. Sources used |
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War Office: Soldiers' Documents (The National Archives, Kew (TNA) WO 363). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
More information 3
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461731 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=ee8b2f38-3755-4abd-9b0c-29088f7a48cd |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/30567 |