George William Allen

William was born in 1880 in Retford. He previously had a butcher's shop in Woolpack Street with his wife Mary May Allen (nee Allwood) whom he had married in 1906. They later moved to Gringley Villa Farm Cottage where they had cows, horses and established a milk delivery business. At the time George was posted missing presumed killed the family was living at 34, Trent Street. The last time the family saw George alive was on a newsreel together with other soldiers at the Picture Palace, Carolgate, Retford, after he had been conscripted. His widow and their four young children moved to 16, Grove Street, Retford, where Mrs Allen carried on the milk delivery business for many years pushing a large yellow and black wheeled milk cart delivering milk twice a day. During the summer when she had any milk not sold she would turn it into ice cream which she sold to make ends meet. She also made and sold iced wedding cakes. Her son Harold William Allen carried on the milk delivery business for a time, delivering the milk by pony and trap.