
ALLEN, Horace John Thomas
Service Number: | 2369 |
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Enlisted: | 24 February 1916 |
Last Rank: | Private |
Last Unit: | 52nd Infantry Battalion |
Born: | Yandaran, Queensland, Australia, 30 August 1897 |
Home Town: | Avondale, Bundaberg, Queensland |
Schooling: | Avondale State School, Queensland, Australia |
Occupation: | Labourer |
Died: | Killed in Action, France, 5 April 1918, aged 20 years |
Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" |
Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Avondale Honour Roll, Bundaberg Christ Church Roll of Honour, Bundaberg War Memorial, Tegege Hall Honour Board, Villers-Bretonneux Memorial |
World War 1 Service
24 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2369, 52nd Infantry Battalion | |
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19 Sep 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2369, 52nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Seang Choon embarkation_ship_number: A49 public_note: '' | |
28 Mar 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2369, 52nd Infantry Battalion, Dernancourt/Ancre |
Help us honour Horace John Thomas Allen's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by MARGARET COOPER SMITH
Horace John Thomas Allen was born on 30th August 1897 in Yandaran, just north of Bundaberg, Queensland, the eldest son of three boys and second child of eight children born to William Robert Allen and his wife Annie Margaret (nee Turner) Allen. Father William was born in England in 1860 and died in Bundaberg in 1949 aged 88 years. His wife, Annie was born in Maryborough, Queensland in 1873 and also died in Bundaberg in 1929 aged 55 years. Both are buried in the Bundaberg General Cemetery in the Monumental Section A13A, Grave P1155.
The family included Amelia Maud born 1895, Horace born 1897, Daisy born 1899, Dorothy born 1902, Violet born 1906, Florence born 1909, William born 1912 and Edward born 1915.
Horace attended Avondale State School and became a labourer after leaving school. The family were Church of England and would have attended Christ Church in Bundaberg as Horace’s name is recorded on the Roll of Honour there. Horace became a member of the Prince Arthur Lodge No. 12, Bundaberg of Protestant Alliance Friendly Society of Australasia.
At the age of 18 years and 5 months, Horace enlisted in the A.I.F. in Brisbane on 24th February 1916. He was given the Service Number 2369 and allotted to the 52nd Infantry Battalion, 5th Reinforcements. His physical attributes included being 5 feet 8½ inches tall, fair complexion, blue eyes, brown hair with a scar on his left forearm. It was noted during his medical examinations that he required some dental treatment.
After initial training in Brisbane, Horace embarked on 19th September 1916 in Brisbane, Qld on HMAT Seang Choon A49. He was now 19 years of age. The ship arrived in Plymouth, England on the 9th December 1916, just in time for Christmas and the cold English winter. The Battalion did more training on Salisbury Plain. Eventually Horace found himself in France in the Dernancourt/Ancre area.
Horace was wounded in action on the 26th September 1917 with a wound to the head. He was evacuated to La Touquet and later transferred to Rouen Hospital on 2nd October 1917. After recuperation, Horace rejoined his unit on the battlefield on 26th November 1917.
However, less than five months later Private Horace Allen was killed in action on 5th April 1918 at Dernancourt, Picardie, France. Horace was 20 years of age, just four months short of his 21st birthday.
As Horace has no known grave on the battlefield, his name is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, just outside the village of Villers-Bretonneux, France. This is where the Australian Anzac Day Service is held every year in France.
Horace’s Mother, Mrs Annie Allen was sent his effects on 3rd June 1918. These were listed as a wallet, photos, cards, letters and four coins
A Pension was granted to his Mother of 1 pound, 10 shillings per fortnight from 25 June 1918.
Horace’s father, William Allen received Horace’s medals, the British War Medal No 47762 and the Victory Medal No 47206. A Memorial Scroll, Memorial Plaque and the pamphlet ‘Where the Australians Rest’ were also received.
Private Horace John Thomas Allen is commemorated on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour on Panel 154, the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial (Australian National Memorial, France), the Bundaberg War Memorial (East Facing Panel, Column A, Line 2), the Bundaberg Christ Church Roll of Honour (Column A, line 58), the Avondale Honour Roll and the Tegege Hall Honour Board.
Left to grieve their loss were Horace’s parents William and Annie Allen, sisters Amelia Maud Rice, Daisy Lillian Rose Miles, Dorothy May Allen, Violet Margaret Annie Marsden, Florence Lucy Louisa Kindt and brothers William Robert Leichhardt Allen and Edward Francis James Allen.
Eldest sister Amelia Rice had already experienced the horrors of the First World War. Her husband, Horace’s brother-in-law, Private Frederick James Rice, was killed in France on 15th February 1917 aged 28 years. Fred was the youngest of four sons born to John and Maria Rice of Mt Perry, Qld. All four sons enlisted in the A.I.F. with only one son, George Rice surviving. Eldest John Thomas Rice died 5th September 1916 aged 35 years in France and second son William Henry Rice died 7th June 1917 aged 34 years in Belgium. George was sent back to Australia when the authorities learnt that his widowed mother, Mrs Maria Rice had already lost three sons killed in the war and had no-one to support her. The Rice brothers are commemorated on the Bundaberg War Memorial along with Horace Allen. Hence, Horace’s sister Amelia lost her brother, husband and two brothers-in-law on the Western Front, all within 19 months of each other.
Bibliography:
War Records NAA – Series B2455 – Allen Horace John Thomas – SERN DEPOT 2369
A.I.F. Project
AWM Roll of Honour
Qld BDM
Find A Grave – ID 16179276