Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

In January of 1916, Thomas Allen enlisted in the war at the age of 30 years old. He was working as a chef, living on Quebec Street in Port Adelaide, South Australia. Born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1886, he was deemed a Naturalized British subject when he enlisted. He was 5 foot 6 ½ inches, weighed 56 kgs and had a chest measurement of about 34 inches. He was a Methodist. He had a sister, Maggie Overall, who lived in New South Wales, and who he nominated as his next of kin. On the 25th of March, he embarked to war with the rest of his unit on the HMAS A9 Shropshire, a military passenger ship, heading towards Port Suez, Egypt. Although, the ship made a stop at Fremantle, Western Australia before continuing its journey.

When he arrived in Port Suez, he was in the 27th Infantry Battalion and on the 11th reinforcement. After training in Egypt for 2 months, he was sent to France to fight on the Western Front. On the 8th of August 1916, he was taken on strength and sent out to war right after his battalion fought in the battle of Pozieres. He suffered a wound to the abdomen wall and a gunshot wound to the chest. He was admitted into the 2nd Birmingham war hospital in England to recover from his injuries. For a month he was going from hospital to hospital, from 2nd Birmingham to 1st Auxiliary and now to Weymouth. After healing from his wounds, he was sent back out to battle. A little time after he was released, he went A.W.L. (absent without leave) for 3 days. Leaving his battalion on the 12th of December, and coming back again at 4pm on the 16th.

In March of 1917, their unit advanced overseas through France. During these times, Thomas had sustained no injuries or wounds while continuing his service in the war. During this time, he fought in many battles including some of the more notable battles such as the battle of Amiens, Hindenburg line and German spring offensive. Having no injuries he decided to take his 3-week English leave on the 12th of January 1918 while his battalion was fighting in Belgium. He fought in more battles and still sustained no injuries, so he took another 3-week English leave to England on the 22nd of October the same year, while his Battalion was in France. Although, when he came back from his leave, the Armistice was signed 3 days later. He was given the British war medal and Victory medal.

After the war ended, he stayed in Europe although was hospitalized from sickness on the 7th of January 1919. He recovered after spending 93 days in the hospital and was discharged on the 9th of April. He returned to Australia on the 15th of May 1919, after recovering from his sicknesses a month earlier. He was discharged form the A.I.F on the 16th of August 1919. He died of natural causes at the age of 89 in his hometown of Largs North, South Australia. He was buried in the Port Adelaide Enfield memorial on the plot, General AV53.