Allen, W V
WALTER VALENTINE ALLEN
Remembered with honour Dive Copse British Cemetery: Plot II, Row B, Grave 5.
He originally enlisted 8 May 1896 at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, for Long Service (12 years with the Colours) in the Royal Artillery: aged 14, 4’11½” tall, Wesleyan, his next-of-kin his father of Great Yarmouth. He served in the South African War; was promoted Bombardier 4 August 1900, promoted Corporal 3 May 1901, demoted back to Bombardier 28 November 1905, which rank he still held at his discharge 7 May 1908, having completed his 12 years. He then enlisted again in London; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 12 May 1915, and died in the field of wounds received in action. Unfortunately, Walter’s W.W.1 Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
There is an article about Walter in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 12 August 1916.
Son of Charles Valentine and Elizabeth Thirza/Thalia (nee KETTLEY) ALLEN; husband of Nora (nee GARON) ALLEN of Watford.
His parents married 1879 in the Yeovil, Somerset, district. Charles died 19 April 1927 in Great Yarmouth aged 72; Elizabeth died 20 March 1925 in Gorleston, Norfolk, aged 68.
Walter was born 1882 in Leith, Edinburgh, and married 1913 in the Watford district; they had two children.
On the 1891 Census, a scholar aged 9 he lived in Great Yarmouth, with his parents and three siblings. On the 1901 Census, a Bombardier with the Royal Field Artillery aged 19, he was stationed at the Garrison, Colchester, Essex. On the 1911 Census, a dry and fancy goods dealer aged 29, he lived alone in Great Yarmouth.
Service number
50481Rank
Battery Sergeant-MajorUnit
"A" Battery, 51st BrigadeRegiment
Place buried
Date of death
18/07/1916Age at death
34Place of death
Memorial(s)
Notes
Walter is possibly the Battery Sgt-Mjr ALLEN commemorated on the Borough Roll of Honour- 1st S.W. Herts Scout Troop [in St Mary's Parish Church Watford] (4)
- Abbot's Langley Herts War Memorial (17)
- Aldbury Herts War Memorial (1)
- Aldenham Herts War Memorial (located in Letchmore Heath Herts) (8)
- All Saints Church Croxley Green Herts (12)
- All Saints Church Harrow Weald Middx (2)
- All Saints Church Hertford (1)
- All Saints Church King's Langley Herts (1)
- All Saints Church Leavesden Herts (31)
- All Saints Church Witham Essex (3)