William James Allen

William James Allen

Personal Information
Birth	29 Dec 1892
Place of Birth	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Death	14 May 1937
Place of Death	Perth, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	23 years, 4 months
Description	5' 11" (1.80m) tall; 153 lbs (69.4 Kg); fresh complexion, brown eyes, brown hair
Occupation	Gardener
Religion	Church of England
Address	Kelmscott, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father Mr William Allen
Military Information
Reg Number	2045
Date of Enlistment	22 April 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	44th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcement, 11th Brigade, 3rd Division
Date of Embarkation	13 Oct 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A23 Suffolk
Date of Return	9 June 1919
Ship Returned On	SS Kaiser-i-hind
Fate	Returned to Australia
Monument	Kelmscott (listed on Monument as J.)
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

War Service

After 7 weeks general training at Blackboy Hill camp, William is allocated to the 3rd reinforcement draft for the 44th Battalion. Other locals in the same draft are Arthur Leworthy Bettenay and Wilfred George Bettenay. Less than a month after arrival in England, William is needed in France as the 44th move into the front line near Armentiers. From England he boards the SS Princess Victoria in Folkestone for France on 20 Dec 1916.

His records don't reveal his movements before 10 Feb 1917 when he was placed aboard the HMHS Dieppe for evacuation to England with the mumps. Admitted to Lakeham Military Hospital in Norwich on 10 Feb, he was released to No2 Command Depot Weymouth on 2 Mar 1917, and moved to Perham Downs for a period before again embarking from Folkestone for France on 9 May 1917. William rejoins the 44th Battalion near St Omer in France on 14 May 1917 where they were retraining and rebuilding after a period in the front lines. On 16 Oct 1917 as the battalion was withdrawn from the front line east of Ypres, Bill is hospitalised with a severely scalded left foot, and he was again evacuated to England. This time the HMHS St George embarked him on 23 Oct 1917 and he was admitted to the Reading War Hospital the next day. [The injury is judged to have been accidental and thus he faces no punishment.]

Fit again, on 13 Mar 1918 he proceeded to France through Southampton, and rejoined his unit six days later in the St Omer rear area. He was again hospitalised for illness, this time in France on 16 May 1918, and on recovery was released to his Divisional Base Unit on 4 Jun 1918, but again entered hospital on 13 Sep 1918. William left France for England on 3 Mar 1919 and entered King George Hospital with Appendicitis, before being released 17 Mar 1919 for furlough. Discharged 5th Military District 17 Jul 1919.

Returned to Aust Ship: SS Kaiser-i-hind Dates: 6 May 1919 to 9 Jun 1919 Death: 14 May 1937 in Perth aged 44, buried in Kelmscott.

Allen, Wm. Jas. (Kelmscott) ILL - previously reported injured. RETURNING SOLDIERS. FURTHER LISTS. The following lists are furnished by the military authorities....: KAISER-I-HIND. 2045 Allen, W. J. The June 1937 issue of "The Listening Post" reports W. Allen's sudden death at Armadale. 1916 to 1925 Electoral Rolls give his address as Southern River, Kelmscott.