He attended classes at the Superior Public School in Hurstville before working as an employee for the New South Wales Government Railways. He joined the cadets and then the 39th battalion of the Australian military forces.
He served in 1913 and was appointed to the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) on June 24, 1915. He embarked for Egypt with the reinforcements of the 13th Battalion in August. In March 1916, he was promoted to captain and assigned to the 45th battalion. Allen arrived in France on 8 June 1916 and fought in Pozières in August. He remained on the front line of the Somme in 1917 and directed his men through the Battle of Messina in June. He received the order of distinction for his command and was promoted major in July. He continued to lead his men to fighting, in Dernancourt in April 1918 and then became lieutenant-colonel in charge of the 48th Battalion at Monument Wood.
In June 1918, Allen went to England to attend the senior officers course at Aldershot. Less than two weeks after the end of the war Allen, aged 24, was promoted to lieutenant colonel and became commander of the 13th battalion. He will receive the French War Cross for his service on the Western Front. His appointment to the Australian Imperial Forces ends on November 10, 1919.
He became accountant after the war and in 1921 married Agnes Blair. He remained active in the militia and his accounting career continued in parallel with his military career. In 1933, he became colonel in charge of the 14th Brigade. Five years later, in 1938, he became brigadier general and in October 1939 he became commander of the 16th Brigade of the 6th Division of the Australian Imperial Forces. His experience in combat and his rounded stature earned him the nickname "Tubby" -> "Dodu".
After the war, Allen became the senior partner of an accounting firm. He died in January 1959 and received a military funeral before being cremated.
0 commentaires :
Post a Comment