Samuel Leslie ALLEN

Service Number:	2124
Enlisted:	11 January 1916, Sydney
Last Rank:	Private
Last Unit:	55th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Wolumba, New South Wales, Australia, date not yet discovered
Home Town:	Bibbenluke, Bombala, New South Wales
Schooling:	Bibbenluke Public School, and Hereford House Training College, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation:	School Teacher
Died:	Died of wounds, France, 19 May 1917, age not yet discovered
Cemetery:	Grevillers British Cemetery Grevillers British Cemetery Plot 111, Row A. Grave 18, Grevillers British Cemetery, Grevillers, Picardie, France
Memorials:	Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Parramatta NSW Public School Teachers KIA Honour Roll, Parramatta NSW Public School Teachers Who Served Abroard Honour Roll

World War 1 Service

11 Jan 1916:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Sydney
4 Sep 1916:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2124, 55th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Port Sydney embarkation_ship_number: A15 public_note: ''
4 Sep 1916:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 2124, 55th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Port Sydney, Sydney
7 Sep 1916:	Embarked AIF WW1, HMAT A15 Port Sydney from Sydeny
Date unknown:	Involvement 55th Infantry Battalion, Fromelles (Fleurbaix)

Private Samuel Leslie Allen.

In memory of Private Samuel Leslie Allen (Service No. 2124), 55th Battalion, who died of wounds 100 years ago on 19th May 1917, aged 28 years, during the 2nd Battle of Bullecourt. He had received gunshot wounds to the right leg and left shoulder on 18th May. According to his mate and fellow MFSR marcher, Private Halloran Archer, who was with Les at the time, Les’s leg was shot off, and Halloran helped to carry him to a nearby aid station. Halloran’s letter to Les’s mother, explaining the way Les died, was later turned into a very successful and moving song called “Dear Mrs. Allen”, written and performed by Kevin Baker. Les was born at Wolumla, and was a schoolteacher at Bibbenluke at the time of his enlistment. He was the 2nd of 12 children born to Samuel John and Elizabeth (nee Wilson) Allen. His brother Walter Edwin, also served briefly in WWI, having enlisted shorty before hostilities ceased, he then served in WWII. Three other brothers, John Keith and Joseph Lionel and Franklin Lyle, also served in WWII. Les is buried at Grevillers British Cemetery, France. Lest We Forget.

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