Pte
George Walter Allen
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1899 |
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Place of birth: Coolamon, New South Wales, Australia |
General information
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Profession: Labourer |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 6517 |
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Enlistment date: 03/01/1917 |
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Enlistment place: Moore Park, Sydney, South Wales, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 18th Bn. (New South Wales) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 20/09/1917 |
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Place of death: Anzac, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 18 |
Cemetery
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Buttes New British Cemetery, Polygon Wood Plot: XXX Row: A Grave: 11 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Private George Walter Allen of the 18th Battalion Australian Infantry Force (A.I.F.), 5th Australian Brigade, 2nd Australian Division fought in the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge, a stage in the Third Battle of Ypres, also known as The Battle of Passchendaele.
Private Allen enlisted on 3 January 1917. Here he listed his previous occupation as ‘Labrourer’ and stated his age exactly 18 years and 0 months which could indicate that he was actually underage. His unit embarked from Sydney on 7 February, arriving in England 11 April 1917. He proceeds overseas to France on 13 August to join the 18th Battalion A.I.F.
On 20 September 1917 the 2nd Aus. Division attacked at 5:40 a.m. The attack of the 5th Australian Brigade was carried by the 20th Battalion and the 18th Battalion in support, with 17th and 26th Battalions in reserve. An excellent Allied artillery barrage gave the troops good coverage and they were able to swiftly advance. The attack went well although the 20th Battalion met some resistance to their left from a line of concrete artillery shelters. They managed, nonetheless, to swiftly reach the first objective line but then came under heavy fire from two German pillboxes which had to be dealt with immediately to minimize further casualties. The 18th battalion then took over the attack for the second objective line, taking ANZAC House and Iron Cross redoubt relatively easily. They were then forced to advance on and take Garter point to stop German sniping on Allied forces who were trying to consolidate the second objective line. The third and final objective line was later also reached and taken with relative ease, and they were able to successfully hold on to it. The attack, overall, was a success.
Private Allen was initially reported Missing in Action as of the 20th of September 1917 and was later declared Killed in Action by Court of Enquiry on 4 December 1917. He was originally buried close to ANZAC House, making it likely that he was killed here whilst taking or consolidating the second objective line with the 18th Battalion. His remains were identified via his Disc and Badge and he is now officially buried at Buttes New British Cemetery; Plot XXX, Row A, Grave11. He is also commemorated on Panel 84 of the Australian War Memorial.
His brother Private Edward Allen (2326) was also Killed in Action in France on 18th May 1918.
Private Allen enlisted on 3 January 1917. Here he listed his previous occupation as ‘Labrourer’ and stated his age exactly 18 years and 0 months which could indicate that he was actually underage. His unit embarked from Sydney on 7 February, arriving in England 11 April 1917. He proceeds overseas to France on 13 August to join the 18th Battalion A.I.F.
On 20 September 1917 the 2nd Aus. Division attacked at 5:40 a.m. The attack of the 5th Australian Brigade was carried by the 20th Battalion and the 18th Battalion in support, with 17th and 26th Battalions in reserve. An excellent Allied artillery barrage gave the troops good coverage and they were able to swiftly advance. The attack went well although the 20th Battalion met some resistance to their left from a line of concrete artillery shelters. They managed, nonetheless, to swiftly reach the first objective line but then came under heavy fire from two German pillboxes which had to be dealt with immediately to minimize further casualties. The 18th battalion then took over the attack for the second objective line, taking ANZAC House and Iron Cross redoubt relatively easily. They were then forced to advance on and take Garter point to stop German sniping on Allied forces who were trying to consolidate the second objective line. The third and final objective line was later also reached and taken with relative ease, and they were able to successfully hold on to it. The attack, overall, was a success.
Private Allen was initially reported Missing in Action as of the 20th of September 1917 and was later declared Killed in Action by Court of Enquiry on 4 December 1917. He was originally buried close to ANZAC House, making it likely that he was killed here whilst taking or consolidating the second objective line with the 18th Battalion. His remains were identified via his Disc and Badge and he is now officially buried at Buttes New British Cemetery; Plot XXX, Row A, Grave11. He is also commemorated on Panel 84 of the Australian War Memorial.
His brother Private Edward Allen (2326) was also Killed in Action in France on 18th May 1918.
Sources 4
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18th Australian Infantry Battalion, (Australian War Memorial, Campbell (AWM), AWM4 23/35/26). https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1338583 Sources used |
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Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10687414 Sources used |
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First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920, (National Archives of Australia, Canberra (NAA), B2455, ALLEN G W). https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/NameSearch.aspx. Sources used |
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McCarthy C., Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account, (London, Uniform, 2018), pg. 80-83. Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/480090 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=3526b2af-5b3d-4e03-a54a-c6d661408e05 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/7340908 |
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The AIF Project (UNSW Canberra) https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=3205 |