Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

James ALLAN, (Service Number 3754A) born at Mackay in 1890, joined the NSWGR as an engine cleaner at Murrurundi in 1908. Transferred to Hamilton locomotive depot in 1910, he was promoted to fireman in 1911. Granted leave to enlist in the AIF, he did so in Newcastle in August 1915.
Embarked in January 1916, he was landed in France and joined his unit in the field in April 1916. In hospital with trench feet and Influenza from November 1916 to January 1917, he then re-joined his battalion and was wounded in action in February (a gunshot wound to the knee). Evacuated to England in March, he spent most of that year in hospital, some of the time under treatment for venereal disease he stated he had contracted in Glasgow. He returned to France in December 1917.
In August 1918 he was mortally wounded. The citation for the Military Medal which was awarded him read:
‘During the attack on Rainecourt, east of Amiens, on the morning of 11 August 1918, Pte Allan at great personal risk charged an enemy machine gun firing a Lewis gun from the hip. He killed several of the enemy and the remainder of his team coming up, captured the rest of the post… [Later] it was essential that messages should be sent to the rear at once, and Pte Allan volunteered. He started off under heavy machine gun fire. After having gone about 400 yards, he was severely wounded in the abdomen and both wrists. By his utter disregard of danger, and his coolness, he set a fine example…’
He died the same day at a Casualty Clearing Station and was buried in the Daours Communal Cemetery Extension.
(NAA B2455-3028234)