Arthur James Allen
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Age | 29 years 9 months |
| Place of Birth | Oakabella, Western Australia |
| Death Date | 10 May 1944 |
| Place of Death | Boddington |
| Description | 5' 6" (1.68m) tall, 143 lbs (64.9 Kg) weight; ruddy complexion; blue eyes, brown hair. |
| Occupation | Farm hand |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Kelmscott, Western Australia |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 5794 |
| Date of Enlistment | 31 May 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit | 27th Battalion, 16th Reinforcement |
| Formation | 7th Bde, 2nd Div |
| Fate |
Wounded in Action 12 Jun 1918 Morlancourt area; |
| Date of embarkation | 30 Oct 1916 |
| Sailed from | Fremantle to Devonport |
| Ship embarked on | HMAT Port Melbourne A16 |
Enlisted in Geraldton, and after a month's basic training is allocated on 21 Jun 1916 to the 17th reinforcement draft for the 28th Battalion, and then 10 weeks later he was transferred to the 16th reinforcement draft for the 27th Battalion. Arthur shared the voyage to England with Thomas Ramsell, a member of the 4th reinforcement draft for the 43rd Battalion, and Francis Wakeham, a member of the 6th reinforcement draft for the 5th Pioneer Battalion.
On arrival in England he is sent to the 7th Training Battalion at Rollestone, before embarking in Folkestone on the SS Invicta for France on 8 Feb 1917. Arthur was taken on strength by the 27th Battalion on 12 Feb 1917, before they relieved the 22nd Battalion in the front line two days later.
On 12 Jun 1918, Arthur suffers a GSW to his left leg, which required it to later be amputated above the knee. In all likelihood this injury was caused by enemy shell fire as during the evening of 10/11 June the 27th Battalion had attacked and captured the German front line of trenches in the Sailly-Le-Sec area before the Germans had retaliated with heavy shelling of the Battalion's new positions on the 11th and 12th June 1918. Initially his wounds were dressed by the 4th Australian Field Ambulance and checked at the 5th Casualty Clearing Station before being stabilised by the 1st USA General Hospital prior to evacuation to England on HS Grantully Castle .
There he was treated at the Kitchener Military Hospital in Brighton where he was admitted on 22 June, and on 9 Sep 1918 he was transferred to the 2nd Australian Auxiliary Hospital and given furlough on the 24th September.
During his return home he was transhipped at Alexandria, Egypt. Discharged 5th Military District 16 Jun 1919.
Returned to Aust Ship: HT Czaritza. Transhipped to the Dunluce Castle at Alexandria on 7 Apr 1919. Dates: 16 Mar 1919 to 7 May 1919
Additional information
Private A. J. Allen, who recently returned from the front, was accorded a cordial welcome home at the residence of Mrs. A. R Jackson, a gathering of fully 150 people driving long distances to be present. Mr. L. C. Burges, Jnr. presided and several speeches of welcome were made, to which Private A. J. Allen responded. Dancing was kept up until a late hour, and an excellent supper was provided. It was suggested that in order to assist Private Allen, who has lost a leg, the farmers present should undertake to put in 40 acres of crop for him. The suggestion was warmly supported, and it was eventually decided that each farmer in the Oakabella and Howatharra districts should put in 5 acres for Private Alien's benefit.[1]
The movement originated amongst the settlers of Oakabella and Howatharra to put in a crop for Private A. J. Allen, who has returned from the war minus a leg, is being supported most whole-heartedly. Mr. W. H. James, of Windemere Estate, has placed 130 acres at the disposal of the committee, and promises of assistance to prepare, seed, and crop the land are being generously made. The land is now in course of preparation, and on Monday, June 1, the farmers will pull in with their teams, and will suspend work on their own farms until the whole of the 130 acres are seeded. A special occasion will be made of the day, and a big muster from all over the district will be seen.[2]
ALLEN. On May 10, 1944, suddenly, at Boddington, Arthur James, loved brother-in-law of Beth and Vic Quarrell, fond uncle of Bess and Stan.[3]
1910, and 1916 Electoral Rolls show his address as Oakabella, farmer. In 1922 and 1925 he was listed as a poultry farmer in East Jandakot; and between 1931 and 1944 as living in Boddington, employed as a farmer).