Allanson W G Lt Royal Air Force
Lieut. WILFRID GEORGE ALLANSON Royal Air Force
Wilfrid Allanson was a boy who won the respect of masters and boys alike. His talents were above the average, and he had a career of distinction as a student. He came here into Second Figures in September, 1909. Each year of his course he was a prizeman. In Syntax, in 1912, he gained the first medal; in Rudiments, 1910, and Poetry, 1913, the second medal. In 1912 and 1913 he gained prizes in Classical Honours, and the first B.C.A. prize in the latter year.
He passed the Lower Certificate in 1911, with first classes in Latin and English; the School Certificate in 1912, and the Higher Certificate in 1914. The next year he matriculated at the London University.
In November, 1915, he joined the Inns of Court O.T.C. (His brother Gerald held a commission in the M.G.C.)
His preliminary training in the Inns of Court O.T.C. was at Berkhamstead, where he passed the Lewis-gun course, obtaining 99 per cent. of the possible marks. In March, 1917, he was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. After qualifying at Oxford, he was gazetted on May 25th, 1917, and shortly afterwards was attached to the School of Aerial Gunnery, Hythe, as Pilot Instructor. There is no doubt that his mental and physical attainments were much above the average, and had he survived, he gave every promise of going far in his profession. He loved flying, and was really a first-rate pilot.
In March, 1918, he went to France, and on September 21st he was shot down, while fighting five hostile machines, at Cassel, in North France.
His C.O. wrote:- He was one of the most popular officers there has ever been in this squadron, and excellent, too, at his work. I cannot tell you how much we shall miss him. The following copy of a letter from a Church of England Chaplain shows the high esteem in which he was held by the squadron:-
No. 7 Squadron, R.A.F., October 3rd, 1918.
I have just returned from leave and learn with the utmost sorrow of the death in action of your son, Lieut. W. G. Allanson. I cannot find words adequately to express my grief, but I want to offer you my very true and heartfelt sympathy, and to tell you how deeply every member of the squadron feels his loss. It is no exaggeration to say that everybody loved him, for he had one of those very attractive dispositions which won him friends wherever he went. He was always the same bright, cheery, sympathetic friend, good all through, and a pillar of strength in the squadron.
Born in 1897, Lieut. Allanson was the son of Mr. G. Allanson and Mrs. Allanson, of “Belmont,” King’s Avenue, Clapham Park, London, S.W.
He was laid to rest in the British Cemetery Proven two miles inside the Belgian at frontier by the side of his observer, Lieut. W. R. Anderson, who was killed at the same time.
Source : Stonyhurst War Record