ALLEN , Robert William
| Other Name: | Campbell, Andrew James - Service Record |
|---|---|
| Service Number: | 5313 |
| Enlisted: | 22 January 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 19th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Doyles Creek, New South Wales, Australia, 8 December 1876 |
| Home Town: | Tarana, Lithgow, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Wounds, No 11 Stationary Hospital, Rouen, France, 18 May 1917, aged 40 years |
| Cemetery: |
St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen Block P, Plot II, Row O, Grave 3A |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Narrabri and District Soldiers' Memorial Clock Tower, Wickham "Citizens of Wickham" Volunteers Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 22 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 5313, 19th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Aug 1916: | Embarked Private, 5313, 19th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Wiltshire, Sydney | |
| 22 Aug 1916: | Involvement Private, 5313, 19th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '13' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: '' | |
| 13 Dec 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 5313, 19th Infantry Battalion, Departed Folkestone U.K. for France on "Princess Henrietta". | |
| 18 Dec 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 5313, 19th Infantry Battalion | |
| 11 Apr 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 5313, 19th Infantry Battalion, Bullecourt (First) | |
| 3 May 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 5313, 19th Infantry Battalion, GSW to head, Died of Wounds Rouen | |
| 18 May 1917: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 5313, 19th Infantry Battalion, D.O.W. in Hospital at Rouen. | |
| Date unknown: | Involvement Private, 5313, 19th Infantry Battalion |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
Other details: Enlisted 27 January 1916 - 19th Bn 14th Reinforcements; taken on strength 18 February 1916; mortally wounded 3 May 1917; real name stated to be Robert William Allen. Died of wounds 18 May 1917, from wounding Bullecourt, France
Biography contributed by Maurice Kissane
Yes - his was an alias enlistment. However he was an Australian Soldier who fought and died on the Western Front.
He was an intinerant worker who was estranged from his family. He understated his age and used an alias when he enlisted in 1916. He was born Robert William Allen in Dec 1876 in New South Wales. His birth was registered in early 1877. His parents where Daniel and Elizabeth Allen (nee Williams). His mother died young in 1883. Daniel remarried. Hence Robert has siblings and half siblings.
There is NSW marriage record from 1907 in his name but Robert stated that he was unmarried when he enlisted at Bathurst in Jan 1916. He used Andrew James Campell as his alias. His reason for using that name is unknown. Robert listed his NOK as a married friend who was in fact his eldest sister. Ida Marion Collyer (nee Allen) born 1875. He swore her to secrecy because he did not want his estranged family to know that he had enlisted. It was Ida who was notified of his death. Ida later provided the Army with a statuate declaration to reveal his true identity. For Ida felt that his Commonwealth War Grave should have her brother's correct name.
His Commonwealth War Grave Headstone lists his actual name plus his alias. Robert is listed as Ida's brother. Neither their parents nor Ida's sister-in-law are named.
He had his own reasons for using an alias. However he at least manitained contact with one member of his family, even when all other family relationships were estranged.
Robert enlisted after the Anzacs were withdrawn from Gallipoli. The initial enthusiasm to enlist had waned by then due to the very high death toll. Hence he enlisted with the full knowledge of what could happen. Robert was not prepared to stay at home when re-enforcements were needed. He volunteered to serve.
He was mortally wounded during what historians would later call the First Battle of Bullecourt. Lest We Forget.
Robert William Allen Family History from MyHeritage cited including NSW BDM records. NAA AIF File cited.
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