Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Allen Limb, born on September 29, 1886, in Gawler, SA, was a skilled pattern maker before the devastating events of World War I. He came from a Methodist background and lived on Harriet Avenue in Adelaide. Allen was educated at Adelaide High, and is recognised on the School WW1 Honour Board. In 1910, he passed the associateship examination for the Trinity College of Music in London and pursued his passion for singing in Adelaide. At age 29  he enlisted for the AIF on October 29, 1915.

After enlisting, Allen underwent training with the C Company from November 10, 1915, to January 1, 1916, at Woodside Camp (now Woodside Army Barracks). Subsequently, he attended an NCO school from February 1 to February 15, where he improved leadership skills and learned how to carry out complex military duties.

On March 25, 1916, Allen embarked on the HMAS A9 Shropshire, heading for France with the 10th Battalion. His service saw him transitioning from the 10th to the 48th Battalion. While overseas, he faced health challenges, including a Barbers Rash and a bout of synovitis, necessitating hospital treatment. 

After Allen Limb’s initial training in Adelaide, he embarked for France on October 8, 1916, as a private. Arriving in France, Limb underwent further training, before reaching the trenches. The 10th Battalion was tasked with forming a key part of the planned 'winter offensive’ in 1916, finding themselves on the British right flank just east of Pozieres as winter approached. On October 9, 1916, Allen Limb was temporarily assigned to the 1st Australian Command Depot, but he re-joined active service on October 19, 1916, as part of the 48th Battalion AIF, likely at the town Vierstraat.

The 48th Battalion's journey continued as they moved to the Switch Trench at Flers, connecting the front line to the second line. The month of October saw them traverse the Somme, reaching Villers by November. The conditions in Flers were described as horrendous, with mud, horse carcasses, and shell craters dominating the landscape. It was a place where comrades fell, and the weather was unbearably cold, plummeting to around -15° on some days. Amid the challenging circumstances in Flers. On November 17, 1916, he was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal in the field. The 48th Battalion continued to endure the harsh conditions of Flers throughout November.

On December 4, 1916, the Battalion moved back to Dernancourt, participating in various attacks until December 27. Limb was promoted to temporary Corporal on December 1 and then to Corporal on December 6, 1916. Just two days later, he received another promotion, this time to the rank of Sergeant. February 10, 1917, marked another significant milestone in Limb's military career when he was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer (Class II) and appointed as Company Sergeant Major, responsible for a small company of around 100 men. Limb also joined the Royal Flying Corps School of Instruction, helping administrate training and allowing him to take a break away from the ferocious front line. However, Limb fell ill on April 21, 1917, hospitalized with diphtheria.

After recovering, he returned to France on June 18, 1917, and rejoined the 48th Battalion on July 4, 1917. His dedication and leadership abilities were further recognized when, on July 21, 1917, he received a commission and achieved the rank of 2nd Lieutenant. The 48th Battalion continued to face the horrors of the Western Front, participating in the Third Battle of Ypres and battles such as Menin Road, Passchendaele, and Polygon Wood. These campaigns were among the costliest and harrowing of World War I, with the Australian forces suffering immense casualties. Accounts of soldiers fighting in 48th Battalion during this period vividly describe the brutal shelling of the 48th, saying, ‘Big shells punched the rocking earth with appalling fury, smoke rolled in clouds’ while also describing the ‘taste of death’ in their mouths. Allen Limb used his leadership skills to rally his troops and helped keep them in order, even though the intense artillery fire upon the 48th Battalion.

Finally, on December 1, 1917, Allen Limb was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, solidifying his role as a company commander. He later joined the 12th Training Battalion, where he served as a secondary and adjutant, responsible for administrative duties. His extensive experience and leadership qualities made him well-suited for this role, where he coordinated daily activities and assisted in training soldiers in various essential skills such as anti-gas drills, wiring, bombing, how to use and maintain a Lewis gun, musketry, and general activities such as Drill and Marching.

As World War I ended, Limb returned to the 48th Battalion on September 27, 1918, and then resumed service in the 12th Training Battalion, this time as a Company Officer. 

Allen Limb, a dedicated and resilient soldier, served his country with distinction during World War I. Throughout his military journey, he exemplified the core values of the Australian Army, showcasing leadership, resilience, and unwavering commitment to duty. His service was recognized with the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, and he was even mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's despatch. After the war, Allen settled in Tasmania, where he not only continued to contribute to his community but also pursued a successful career in first-class test cricket, conducting the Hobart Orpheus Choir. The late Allen Limb was described by his towns folk as enthusiastic and artistically minded. His dedication to Australia, the Commonwealth, and his fellow mates continued until his passing on July 1, 1975, at the age of 88 in Battery Point, Tasmania.