ALLAN, Arthur William
| Service Number: | 154 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 14 July 1915, Broadmeadows, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 32nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Maldon, Victoria, Australia, 6 March 1892 |
| Home Town: | Maldon, Mount Alexander, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Maldon State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Coronary Occlusion, Maldon, Victoria, Australia, 13 July 1964, aged 72 years |
| Cemetery: |
Maldon General Cemetery, Victoria Section F, Comp 30, No 1436 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 14 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 154, 29th Infantry Battalion, Broadmeadows, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 Nov 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 154, 29th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '16' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ascanius embarkation_ship_number: A11 public_note: '' | |
| 25 Jun 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 154, 29th Infantry Battalion, Sent to the 3rd Army School of Sniping on 25/06/1917. Returned to Unit on 08/07/1917 | |
| 26 Sep 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 154, 29th Infantry Battalion, Polygon Wood | |
| 29 Sep 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 154, 29th Infantry Battalion, Breaching the Hindenburg Line - Cambrai / St Quentin Canal | |
| 11 Oct 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 32nd Infantry Battalion | |
| 25 Jul 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 154, 32nd Infantry Battalion |
Congratulatory letter from Sir W.R. Birdwood
Congratulatory letter to the father of Private Arthur William Allan, John Edward Allan, from Sir W.R. Birdwood, Commanding the 1st Anzac Corps, dated 24th January, 1918;
Dear Sir, I have much pleasure in forwarding hereunder copy of extract from Routine Orders issued by Lieutenant-General Sir W.R. Birdwood, K.C.B., K.C.S.I., K.C.N.C., C.I.E., D.S.C., Commanding 1st Anzac Corps, relating to the conspicuous services rendered by your son, No. 154 Private A. W. Allan, 29th Battalion.
CONGRATULATORY
"The Army Corps Commander wishes to express his appreciation of gallant services rendered by the undermentioned soldier during the recent operations - No 154 Private A. W. Allan."
The above has been promulgated in Australian Military Order, No 11 dated 12th January, 1918.
Submitted 20 July 2017 by John Lakey
The Battle of Polygon Wood
At the battle of Polygon Wood, Belgium on the 26th and 27th September 1917, Privates, ALLAN Arthur, William 154 29th Battalion 'A' Company and BECKETT Terence, Macguire 4246 29th Battalion 'A' Company were both cited by their Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Muir Purser for gallant actions and both soldiers were recommended for the Military Medal on 03/10/1917.
The citation read;
"In the attack on POLYGON WOOD on 26th. September, 1917, Private Allan pushed forward with the attacking troops and took part in the fighting for the final objective.
When the objective had been taken Pte. Allan assisted to establish and man an observation post, which was maintained throughout 26th. and 27th. September, in spite of being blown up on several occasions by enemy shell-fire. In this way much valuable information was obtained and never for a moment was Private Allan deterred by enemy fire from bringing back information.
Under heavy shell-fire he assisted to bring in wounded, and then subsequently used as runner he carried out his work with great bravery and devotion"
Recommendation; MM
M. Purser Lieut. Colonel
C.O. 29th. Battalion
Submitted 20 July 2017 by John Lakey
Biography contributed by John Lakey
Arthur was born in Maldon, central Victoria on 06th March 1892, his birth name was William Arthur Allan, but preferred to use Arthur (or Art) as his first, as a result all his Military documents show his name as Arthur William Allan.
Arthur was the son of John Edward Allan who was a gold miner and his mother was Mary Ann Allan (nee SMITH ) and they lived in Franklin Street Maldon. He had one brother and seven sisters.
He was never married and had no known children. He died in Maldon on 13th July 1964 at the age of 72 and is buried at the Maldon cemetery.
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