Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Francis Nicholson Allan and Lillian Bertha Allan, of Croydon, New South Wales.     

DEATH OF FOUR
SOLDIERS
Attempting Rescue Of Shipwrecked Crew
SYDNEY, November 15.
It may now be revealed that four Australian soldiers who were drowned on the south coast of New South Wales in May, were helping to rescue 61  members of an Allied ship which had been driven on to the rocks by a storm. At the time it was announced that the men had been swept off the  rocks by a huge wave and carried out to sea. They were, in fact, helping men ashore from the ship in a bosun's chair. The ship was fast on the  rocks off The Bass Point, near Shell Harbor. They and between 30 and 40 other soldiers (many of whom narrowly escaped death) displayed the greatest bravery. The victims were Pte. Bruce Howard Symons, single, of Holt avenue, Mosman: Pte. William Francis Allen, single, of Highbury street, Croydon; Pte. Geoffrey William Pitt, of Chaleyer street, Rose Bay, and Pte. Raymond John Snell, married, of Cecil street, Ashfield. 
The wrecked 9,000-ton steamer, which has been lying on the rocks ever since, was sold at auction last week for £1,500.

Awarded American Soldier's Medal (Posthumous)

Private William Francis Allan, NX133804, sixth Australian Imperial Forces.  For heroism at Sydney, Australia, on 16 May, 1943.  A ship was driven ashore and wrecked on a reef at Bass Point.  The seas were running high.  Knowing full well the dangers  confronting him Private Allan fearlessly went to the rescue of sailors and soldiers aboard the distressed vessel,  While so engaged he sidappears and was presumably drowned.

U.S. Medals For Relatives of
Brave Men
SYDNEY. Friday
Next Monday at the Cenotaph, the US Consul-General (Mr Ely Palmer) will present Soldiers' Medals to relatives of four members of the AIF, who lost their lives during rescue work from a wrecked American ship near Kiama, on May 16, 1943. The four soldiers who were presumably drowned  when attempting to rescue sailors and soldiers in a heavy sea, were Pte Geoffrey William Pitt, of Rose Bay, Pte Bruce Howard Simmons, of  Mosman: Pte Raymond John Snell, of North Strathfield: and Sgt William Francis Allen, of Croydon. The citation authorised by the US Secretary of  War (Mr Henry L. Stimson) on behalf of the President, says the Soldiers' Medal was authorised by American Congress in 1926 for presentation  to any person who distinguished himself by heroism, not involving actual conflict with the enemy.