L/Cpl
John Allan
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1893 |
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Place of birth: Irvinebank, Queensland, Australia, Australia |
General information
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Last known residence: Irvinebank, Queensland, Australia, Australia |
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Profession: Shop Assistant |
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Religion: Presbyterian |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Lance Corporal |
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Service number: 5980 |
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Enlistment date: 12/02/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Townsville, Queensland, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, A.I.F., 9th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 03/11/1917 |
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Place of death: Decoy Wood, 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: XXXVII Row: F Grave: 21 |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Enlistment place | ||
| #2 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
John Allan was the son of Alexander and Annie Allan. He was born around 1893 in Irvinebank, Queensland, Australia, where he lived for the rest of his life. He also worked there as a shop-assistant. On 12 February 1916 he enlisted in the Australian Army at Townsville, Queensland, Australia. During the war he served in the 9th Battalion, Australian Infantry Regiment (3rd Brigade, 1st Division).
John was killed in action on 3 November 1917. On this day 2 patrols went to the area around Assyria. There they came into contact with the Germans. At 6.30 am the Germans bombarded the position of the 9th Battalion heavily and they were attacked. The battalion then organised a counter-attack on the post, which was occupied by the Germans. At 2 pm a detachment of men advanced towards the German position under cover of rifle grenades. The attack ended successfully and the posts were taken. The 9th Battalion also provided porters and work parties from 3 November to 5 November 1917. However, the parties were frequently interrupted by German shellfire with both gas and high explosives.
The 9th Battalion lost approximately 47 servicemen between 31 October and 9 November 1917, excluding officers: 23 were wounded, 14 died after exposure to gas, 6 died of disease and 4 were killed. Among the latter was 24-year-old John Allan. He is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery (Plot XXXVII, Row F, Grave 21). His name is also commemorated on the Australian War Memorial, Panel 54.
John was killed in action on 3 November 1917. On this day 2 patrols went to the area around Assyria. There they came into contact with the Germans. At 6.30 am the Germans bombarded the position of the 9th Battalion heavily and they were attacked. The battalion then organised a counter-attack on the post, which was occupied by the Germans. At 2 pm a detachment of men advanced towards the German position under cover of rifle grenades. The attack ended successfully and the posts were taken. The 9th Battalion also provided porters and work parties from 3 November to 5 November 1917. However, the parties were frequently interrupted by German shellfire with both gas and high explosives.
The 9th Battalion lost approximately 47 servicemen between 31 October and 9 November 1917, excluding officers: 23 were wounded, 14 died after exposure to gas, 6 died of disease and 4 were killed. Among the latter was 24-year-old John Allan. He is buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery (Plot XXXVII, Row F, Grave 21). His name is also commemorated on the Australian War Memorial, Panel 54.
Sources 6
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Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455 ALLAN J). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/ Sources used |
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AWM4 Subclass 23/26 - Infantry (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/26/35). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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AWM4 Subclass 23/3 - Infantry (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/3/25). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), 159. Sources used |
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Roll of Honour Cards, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM131). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
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Unit embarkation nominal rolls, 1914-18 War (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM8 23/26/4). https://www.awm.gov.au/ Sources used |
More information 3
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/461724 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=f7f48e4a-66f0-4279-bd5d-4a2ceee2ecbf |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=2744 |