Major W L Allen 2nd Border Regiment
MAJOR W. L. ALLEN, D.S.O.
2ND BATTALION THE BORDER REGIMENT
WILLIAM LYNN ALLEN was the third son of Bulkeley Allen (O.R., 1853), J.P., of West Lynn, Altrincham, Cheshire.
He entered the School in 1885, and left in 1888. He was gazetted to the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, in 1891, and to the Border Regiment in 1893. He was promoted Lieutenant in 1896, and Captain in 1902.
He served in the 1st Battalion, with much distinction, in the South African War, and was present at the Battles of Colenso, Spion Kop, Pieter’s Hill, and other Natal actions, as well as in the Transvaal and the Orange River Colony. For his services he received the D.S.O., was twice mentioned in Despatches, and received the Queen’s Medal with five Clasps and the King’s with two. During the later stages of this War he was Adjutant, and continued to hold this position afterwards. He obtained his Majority in the 2nd Battalion in 1913.
Early in October, 1914, he went to the front with the 7th Division, which defended the town of Ypres from October 18th to November 6th. From October 18th he occupied a salient point on the extreme left of his Regiment between the villages of America and Krusseik. On the evening of the 25th about a hundred of the enemy made their way over trenches occupied by a neighbouring Regiment and appeared in the vicinity of a farm-house in the rear. They were at first mistaken for Belgians who were expected in support, but, the mistake being realised, firing took place and a considerable number were shot down. The rest then signified their wish to surrender and asked for an English Officer. Major Allen advanced from his trench with two men and was at once treacherously shot by the enemy, on the night of October 25th, 1914. Age 43. He married, in 1898, Adeline Miriam, daughter of Isaac Garbutt Dickinson, of Maybury, Woking, and left three children.
Source : Memorials Of Rugbeians Who Fell In The Great War Vol 1
