ALLEN, Angus Sutherland
| Service Number: | 301 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 19 August 1914, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | 4th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Moruya, New South Wales, Australia, 21 April 1896 |
| Home Town: | Kensington, Randwick, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Petersham Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Bank clerk |
| Died: | Died of wounds, Ebblinghem, France, 21 July 1918, aged 22 years |
| Cemetery: |
Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery V C 87 |
| Memorials: | Ashfield Presbyterian Church Great War Memorial Window, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Bank of New South Wales Roll of Honour Book |
World War 1 Service
| 19 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 301, Sydney, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Oct 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 301, 4th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Euripides embarkation_ship_number: A14 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 301, 4th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Euripides, Sydney | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 301, 4th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 1 May 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 4th Infantry Battalion | |
| 5 Aug 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 4th Infantry Battalion | |
| 1 Jan 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 4th Infantry Battalion | |
| 21 Jul 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Captain, 4th Infantry Battalion, Merris (France), --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 4th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Captain awm_died_date: 1918-07-21 |
WW1
The details provided are taken from the book "Stealth Raiders - a few daring men in 1918" written by Lucas Jordan, published 2017, refer to page 261. prior to the war he was a bank clerk of Kensington NSW. he enlisted 19th Aug 1914 aged 19 years. Attached to 4th Battalion he was promoted eventually to Captain. He died of wounds 21st Aug 1918. Lest we Forget
Submitted 9 January 2020 by Maxwell HILL
Biography
Angus Sutherland ALLEN was born on 21st April, 1896 in Moruya, NSW
His parents were Victor Franklin ALLEN and Euphemia SUTHERLAND who married in Moruya in 1896
Military Cross
'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in establishing an observation post. Though frequently subjected to heavy shell and machine gun fire, he made constant reconnaissances, and never failed to keep his battalion well posted with information. He so successfully organized his snipers that at least twenty five of the enemy were accounted for.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 15
Date: 4 February 1919
"...Captain Angus Sutherland Allen MC, 4th Battalion of Rockdale, NSW. A bank clerk prior to enlistment, he embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Euripides (A14) on 20 October 1914, as a Private with the service number 301. In 1918, with the rank of Lieutenant, he was awarded a Military Cross (MC) for brilliant services rendered to his battalion during strenuous fighting in front of Meteren and Merris, France. Promoted to Captain, he was wounded in action near Merris on 11 July 1918 and died of wounds on 21 July 1918 at the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station, Ebblinghem, France, aged 22. He is buried in the Longuenesse (St Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, France." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)
Biography contributed by William Valarezo
Angus Allen was born on 21 April 1896 at Moruya, New South Wales, to Victor Franklin Allen, a bank manager, and Euphemia Sutherland. He attended Petersham Superior Public School and served in the junior cadets. In April 1911 he was a member of the unofficial cadet contingent sent to London to attend the coronation of King George V. After returning to Australia he completed his schooling and went to work as a bank clerk.
When the First World War began Allen was among the first to rally to the colours. Aged 19, he joined the newly raised 4th Battalion and was posted to F Company. After training he embarked for Egypt with his battalion aboard the transport ship Euripides. Arriving in December, the men of the 4th Battalion went into camp at Mena and continued to train for war on the Western Front.
In 1915 Allen transferred to the 4th Battalion signals section, and landed with them on Gallipoli on 25 April. He remained on the peninsula throughout the campaign and took part in all the 4th Battalion’s actions, including the battle of Lone Pine. He was promoted to lance corporal in October, and left with the withdrawal in December.
In March 1916 Allen was promoted to temporary corporal and sailed with the 4th Battalion to France to join the war on the Western Front. The battalion’s first major battle was in the brutal fighting at Pozières.
That August Allen was commissioned as a second lieutenant. His battalion spent the rest of the year in and out of the front lines, enduring the harshest winter on record. On New Year’s Day 1917 Allen was promoted to lieutenant. After taking part in the failed Second Battle of Bullecourt, Allen was detached in mid-July from the 4th Battalion and sent to England, where he joined the 1st Training Battalion. He returned to the 4th Battalion in January 1918.
In April the 4th Battalion was rushed to Strazeele to help stem the German Spring Offensive. For his actions Allen was awarded the Military Cross, the citation for which reads:
Lieutenant Allen displayed great gallantry and devotion to duty … he established an outpost prior to the attack and though heavily shelled remained at his post and reported valuable information. Throughout, he made constant reconnaissance of the battalion front, and although frequently subjected to heavy shell- and machine-gun fire, never failed to keep the Battalion well posted with information. He personally sniped two of the enemy and so successfully organised his snipers that at least 25 of the enemy were accounted for.
In late June Allen was promoted to temporary captain and given command of D Company. On 11 July, following a successful raid, he was hit in the abdomen and wrist by machine-gun fire while in the Australian front line. He was taken to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station at Ebblingham, but his condition deteriorated and he died ten days later. He was buried in Longuenesse St. Omer Souvenir Cemetery. He was 22 years old.- courtesy of the Australian war memorials last post ceremony
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