ALLEN, James
| Service Number: | 3619 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 16 August 1915, 8th Reinforcements |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 26th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | St. Mary's, Tas., 1892 |
| Home Town: | Taranna, Tasman, Tasmania |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Bairnsdale, Victoria, Australia, 1 January 1966, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3619, 26th Infantry Battalion, 8th Reinforcements | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Jan 1916: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 3619, 26th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
| 5 Jan 1916: | Embarked Private, 3619, 26th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Melbourne |
Service History
Born: St. Marys, Tasmania
Son of Egbert & Lucy ALLEN
Of Taranna, Tasmania
Occupation prior to enlisting: Labourer
Enlisted: 16 August 1915
Embarkation: 3 January 1916 from Brisbane per ‘Kyarra’
Age: 23 years
Served in Egypt, France & Belgium
Wounded in Action on 2 occasions: 5/8/1916 & 14/11/1916
Returned to Australia: 10 June 1918 per ‘Marathon’
Discharged: 27 June 1918
Photograph Tasmania Weekly Courier 14 March 1918 Insert 5
Submitted 29 January 2016 by Faithe Jones
Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks
3619 Private James Allen, was the first of four brothers to enlist in August 1915. They were the sons of Son of Egbert and Lucy ALLEN.
James left Australia in January 1916 with the 26th Battalion. James was wounded in action during the heavy fighting a Pozieres, on the 5th August 1916. He suffered shrapnel wounds to the shoulder and while recovering his younger brother Leslie was killed in September 1916.
James rejoined the 26th Battalion in France on the 12th November 1916; two days later he was wounded in action for a second time. He had only mild shrapnel injuries in both hands and was back with the Battalion a week later.
During April 1917, he was sick in hospital with scabies when a second younger brother Paul Allen died of wounds. He was back serving with the 26th Battalion in France when a third brother, Edwin, was killed in action in July 1917. Shortly after, James’ parents, Egbert and Lucy Allen, wrote to the Defence Department, who then forwarded the following letter to the Administrative HQ of the AIF in London,
“The following is a copy of an application received in this Department for return to Australia of 3619 Private James Allen, 26th Battalion,
“We are writing to ask that our son Private James Allen No. 3619 26th Battalion (wounded twice) be returned home, as three of our sons have been killed and we think it is only right that the last be sent home.”
2. Copy of report of from Commandant, 6th Military District is attached for your information.
3. In view of the fact that two sons have been killed in action and one has died of wounds the matter is referred to you with the object of ascertaining whether the services of the soldier in question can be utilized in such a manner as to lessen the chance of his being killed.
4. To return him to Australia for the reason that his three brothers have been killed would establish a dangerous precedent, but the Department fully sympathizes with the parents, in the sacrifice they have made, and for that reason the question of action being taken as suggested in para.3 is referred for your consideration and favor of a report please.
Signed, Thomas Trumble, Acting Secretary, Department of Defence.
Thomas Trumble was the brother of the famous Australian cricket Captain, Hugh Trumble, and to his great credit, this was not the first nor the last time he had acted to send surviving family members home. He and General Birdwood (GOC AIF) acted in concert on many more than one occasion to send home "Private Ryan's" in cases where applications were made by families who had suffered multiple deaths during WW1. Although the comment “to return him to Australia for the reason that his three brothers have been killed would establish a dangerous precedent” seems almost ridiculous in today’s world, it must be remembered that the AIF at the time was under intense pressure for manpower.
Brigadier General Thomas Griffiths, who was in charge of the Administration of the AIF in London, wrote to the Defence Department on the 21st March 1918, stating “In reference to your memorandum of 21st January 1918, regarding an application for the return to Australia of 3619 Private James Allen 26th Battalion, I am to say that in view of the representations made, the G.O.C. (Birdwood) is agreeable to the return of this man for discharge and arrangements will be made for his passage on the first available transport.”
Private James Allen was returned to Australia on the 15th April 1918, his file marked “Returned to Australia for discharge, General Officer Commanding AIF”
James died and was buried in Bairnsdale Victoria in 1966.
Hobart Mercury 1918.
“Another of Taranna’s soldiers Private James Allen returned from the front last week. Bunting was displayed everywhere, the flags on the schooner Forbes Bros , at anchor in the bay, attracting special attention As Private Allen stepped ashore cheers were heartily given. The school children, under their teacher, Miss Bound, and bearing flags and gaily decorated banners, formed a guard of honour, and showered flowers on the soldier as he walked off the jetty. Private Allen who has returned on furlough, enlisted at the end of 1914, and has taken part in several battles. He has been twice wounded and is the only survivor of four brothers.
Compiled by Stephen Brooks Jan 2020
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