Francis Joseph Allen
Known as Frank.
Attended St John's School and played in goal for the school team. His first job was as an errand boy for a local butcher but was later employed as a miner at Pleasley Colliery.
- Family History
- Military history
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Son of Francis Joseph Gazby Allen and Sarah Ann Allen of 12 Lime Court, Wood Street, Mansfield. Francis and Sarah didn't marry until 1934. In 1921 they were living at Coke Street, Mansfield Woodhouse with Sarah's daughter, Edith Warren and Francis Allen who was only 9 months old.
Francis snr had served in the Merchant Navy in WW1.
Voluntered in October 1939 and called up in December 1939.
Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser: 19/4/1940: A Mansfield Sailor on the Glowworm, Parents Notified of Loss.
Francis Joseph Allen, the 19 yeard old son of Mr & Mrs F Allen of 12 Lime Court, Wood Street, Mansfield have been received official confirmation from the Admiralty of his death.
Volunteered for the Navy last October and accepted in December.
Attended St John's School and played in goal for the St John's School team. Starting working life as an errand boy for a Mansfield butcher before becoming a miner at Pleasley Colliery. His father had been in the Merchant Navy and was on the S.S. Falaba when it was torpedoed in 1915 in the bristol Channel.
HMS Glowworm: a destroyer. On the 8th April 1940 she was trying to rejoin HMS Renown after slowing to try and locate a man overboard on the 7th April.
In heavy fog she encountered the 2 German Destroyers, Bernd Von Armin and Hans Ludemann. Glowworm opened fire but the German ships were able to call on the Admiral Hipper, a cruiser, for support and at close range she hit the Glowworm. Although badly damaged Glowworm carried on firing. Whislt manouvering in the fog the 2 ships collided with the Glowworm suffering damage to her bow. She drifted clear but a fire in her engine-room caused the boilers to explode and at 10:24 hours she sank with the loss of all hands apart from 34 rescued by the Admiral Hipper.
Remembered on the Portsmouth Memorial, panel 39 col 3.
No photos