ALLEN, Frederick James
| Service Number: | 4728 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 53rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Notting Hill, London, England, 3 May 1890 |
| Home Town: | Gosford, Gosford Shire, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Pound Lane Council School, Willesden Green, London, England |
| Occupation: | Engine Driver |
| Died: | Influenza & Broncho Pneumonia, Town Hall Hospital, Torquay, Devon, England , 25 October 1918, aged 28 years |
| Cemetery: |
Torquay Cemetery and Extension, Devon, England |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 8 Mar 1916: | Involvement Private, 4728, 1st Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Star of England embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Mar 1916: | Embarked Private, 4728, 1st Infantry Battalion, HMAT Star of England, Sydney | |
| 25 Oct 1918: | Involvement Private, 4728, 53rd Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 4728 awm_unit: 53rd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-10-25 |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Frederick James ALLEN, (Service Number 4728) born in London in 1890, joined the NSWGR as an engine cleaner at Gosford in 1914. He probably exaggerated a little when he gave his calling as ‘engine driver’ on enlistment in the AIF at Warwick Farm in August 1915.
Proceeding via Egypt to France, where he landed in April 1916, he was taken prisoner at Laventie in July, and interned in a prisoner of war camp at Munster (according to a German report), or at Gladbach (according to his own report), in Germany. Put to work by the Germans in a timber yard, he managed to escape on 11 September 1918 in company with two others, with whom he made his way to Holland on foot. There they were taken to Rotterdam and reported to the British consul.
Allen was ‘mentioned in despatches’ and reached England on 5 October 1918 but, probably weakened by his privations as a prisoner and during his escape was admitted to hospital in Torquay with Influenza: he died on 26 October of bronchial pneumonia and was buried in Torquay Cemetery. His parents and sister were among those present at the funeral.
(NAA B2455-3029567)
Submitted 9 May 2023 by John Oakes
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Frederick Francis ALLEN, (Service Number 3955) born in 1886 in Plymouth, England, had spent nine years in the Royal Navy before purchasing his discharge. Both upper arms bore dragon tattoos. He was employed on and off by the NSWGR as a labourer from 1910, before becoming permanent as a ‘boilermakers’ helper’ at Eveleigh in 1912. When he enlisted in the AIF in January 1915 he stated his occupation as ‘blacksmith’s striker’.
Embarked from Sydney for Gallipoli, where he landed in November 1915, by the end of March 1916 he was in France with his artillery unit. He had a few days of illness and was promoted but reverted to the ranks at his own request, in 1917. In 1918 he re-joined his unit in July after a fortnight in a rest camp and was promoted to Bombardier and then to Sergeant in September.
On 25 October he was admitted to hospital at Abbeville with Influenza and died early the following morning of bronchial pneumonia. He was buried in the Abbeville Cemetery, Military Section.
(NAA B2455-3029560)
Submitted 9 May 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Frederick James Allen was born at Notting Hill, London, England in 1890.
He came to Australia in 1913 & enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 24th August, 1915 as a 25 year old Engine Driver from Gosford, NSW.
Private Allen, Service number 4728, left Sydney, New South Wales on 8th March, 1916 & was posted to Egypt for 2 months before being sent to France on 28th June, 1916.
Private Frederick James Allen was officially reported as a Prisoner of War on 20th July, 1916 by the German Army. He was captured at Laventie, France and interned at Gefangenenlager I Munster from Fleurbaix.
It was reported & checked on 11th September, 1918 that Private Frederick James Allen had escaped from Germany & had arrived in Holland.
Private Frederick James Allen was reported to have arrived in England on 5th October, 1918 & reported at General Headquarters.
He was admitted to War Hospital, Exeter on 19th October, 1918 with Influenza & was reported to be dangerously ill on 23rd October, 1918.
Private Frederick James Allen died at 3.45 pm on 25th October, 1918 at Town Hall Hospital, Torquay, Devon, England from Influenza & Broncho Pneumonia.
He was buried Torquay Cemetery, Devon, England.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/torquay---devon.html
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