Samuel Allen
- Family History
- Military History
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Samuel was born in 1879 at Arnold and was one of five children born to William a farm labourer and Dina Allen née Hallam of 34, Drayton’s Yard, Arnold He was married to his wife Eliza Marriott on 31st August 1901 in Arnold. They went on to have six children; Samuel born 8th January 1902, Eliza May born 26th January 1903, Eliza born 5th May 1905, William Henry born 2nd January 1909, Walter born 13th March 1910 and Annie Mary born 15th September 1912. All the children were born in Arnold. In the 1911 census he is living with his family at Howitts Yard, Front Street, Arnold, shown as Samuel 33 yrs a colliery labourer, he is living with his wife Eliza 29 yrs and their children Samuel 9 yrs, Else May 8 yrs, Eliza 5 yrs, William Henry 4 yrs and Walter 1 yr. On the same census his parents are living at Draytons Yard, Arnold. William is shown as 76 yrs a pensioner; he is living with his wife Dina 72 yrs and their daughter Sarah Ann and nephew Thomas Allen 19 yrs. Samuel's pension card shows the family were living at 54 James Street, Arnold, his widow Eliza was awarded a pension of 33 shillings and 9 pence a week which commenced on 4th June 1917.
He attested into the Sherwood Foresters on 19th May 1915 at Nottingham and his age given on his attestation papers as 36 years and 11 months. He gave his occupation as iron worker and his address as 54 James Street, Arnold. He embarked from Southampton on 6th March 1916 with his battalion to join the British Expeditionary Force in France. He originally served with the 16th battalion (Chatsworth Rifles) Sherwood Foresters and was transferred on 20th August 1916 to the 17th battalion (Welbeck Rangers) Sherwood Foresters. The battalion moved into trenches about 1500 yards south of the village of Beaumont Hamel and 3000 yards to the north-west of Thiepval. At 5.10am on the 3rd September 1916 the 17th (Welbeck Rangers) battalion moved to attack under artillery barrage and at 6am a message was received from the officer commanding “A” Company that he was in the German Front Line. At 6.10am it was reported that the enemy’s second line is strongly held with machine guns and our casualties are very heavy and reinforcements are urgently needed. Two companies of the 2nd battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps moved up to reinforce but the action was against us the enemy being very strong in artillery and machine guns. The attack was called off and the battalion withdrew to Mailley-Maillet Wood for the night. The casualties had been extremely heavy. It was during this attack that Samuel Allen was killed by bullets from a German machine gun. His body was later recovered and buried in Ancre British Cemetery near Beaumont Hamel, France. Samuel was aged 38 years when he met his death and on the 4th June 1917 he had served a total of 1 year and 108 days with the colours. His widow Eliza received a letter from The Ministry of Pensions dated 25th May 1917 granting her a weekly pension of 33 shillings and 9 pence (approx £1.66 p in today’s money) for herself and her six children.
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