James William George Allen
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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James William George was born in Nottingham in 1878 and was the son of James Allen and his wife Sarah Alice nee Latchford. His father was born in Dunstable, Bedfordshire, and his mother in Baldock, Hertfordshire, the daughter of George and Sarah Latchford; Sarah Alice was christened on 12 September 1853 in Baldock. James and Sarah were married in 1877 (J/F/M Dudley) and had three children, James William George, Ellen and Ada Ethel. Their eldest children were born in Nottingham but the youngest was born in Baldock, Hertfordshire. In 1881 James (25), a printer and compositor, and Sarah (27), a dressmaker, were living at 7 Cairns Street, Nottingham, with their two children James (3) and Ellen (1 month). Their third child, Ada, was born in about 1884 just a few years before her father's death at the age of 30 on 28 June 1886 (A/M/J Nottingham). The family was still living on Cairns Street at the time of James' death. By 1891 the widowed Sarah (37), a lace worker, was living at 26 Leicester Street, Nottingham, with her three children, James (13), Ellen (10) and Ada (7) and the family was still living at the same address ten years later in 1901. James married Ann Brown in Nottingham in 1904 and his sister Ellen married George William Robinson in 1909 (J/A/S Nottingham). James (33) and Ann (31) were living at 26 Leicester Street, St Ann's Well Road, in 1911. James was working as a dairyman on his own account. He and Ann were to have one child, Phyllis Emma, born 7 January 1912. At the time of the same census his married sister Ellen Robinson (29) and her husband George (30) a Leivers lace draughtsman, were living at 28 St Christopher's Street, Sneinton. Also in the household were the widowed Sarah Allen (57) a blouse machinist, and her unmarried daughter Ada Ethel (27) a lace finisher; both were described as boarders'. In 1919 Ann Allen completed a form for the Army listing her husband's surviving blood relatives: she named herself and her daughter Phyllis who were still living at 26 Leicester Street, her mother-in-law Sarah Alice Allen and sister-in-law Ada Allen who were living together in Hyson Green, and her married sister-in-law, Ellen Robinson, who was living at 27 Edale Road, Sneinton. Sarah died on 23 February 1928 aged 74 years; she was buried with her husband in Nottingham General Cemetery on 27 February. James' widow, Ann, never remarried and died on 22 September 1951 (buried 27 September); at the time of her death she was still living at 26 Leicester Street. Their daughter Phyllis Emma married Horace Edward Ayers (b. 31 August 1906) in 1935 (A/M/J Nottingham) and in 1939 she and her husband Horace, a butcher on his own account, were living in West Bridgford with their daughter, Anne S. (b. 3 September 1939). Phyllis died on 19 April 1976; she was then living at 56 Sandbanks Way, Hailsham, East Sussex.
James enlisted in Nottingham on 21 September 1914, he was 36 years old. He had previously served in the Robin Hood Volunteers for three years. He served with “D” Company, 1/7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derbys) Regiment (Robin Hood Rifles) and served at home until 27 February, and then in France from 28 February 1915. He was killed in action less than two months later on 8 April 1915. According to his service record he was buried at 'Lindenhoek Chateau' by Rev H Hales, a service chaplain. (CWGC: Lindenhoek Chalet Military Cemetery, grave ref I.B.7) He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'He died that we might live' Listed in St Mary's parish register at 26 Leicester Street (Nottinghamshire Archives ref PR 6786) Probate: Allen James 21 July [1886]. The Will of James Allen late of Cairns-yard Cairns-street in the Town of Nottingham compositor who died 28 June 1886 at Cairns-yard was proved at Nottingham by Sarah Alice Allen of Cairns-yard. Widow the Relict the sole Executrix. Personal Estate £105 Nottingham General Cemetery. Inscription on parents' headstone: 'In loving memory of James Allen who fell asleep in Jesus June 28th 1886 aged 30 years. He looked for a city which hath sound foundations whose builder and maker is God. Also Sarah Alice beloved wife of the above who fell asleep in Jesus February 23rd 1928 aged 74 years. Reunited. Also Pte JWG Allen, 7th Sherwood Foresters RHR, only son of the above killed in the War April 8th 1915. Aged 37 years. Interred at Kemmel Belgium'. Inscription on family headstone, Nottingham General Cemetery: 'Pte JWG Allen, 7th Sherwood Foresters (RHR), the beloved husband of Nancie Allen, killed in action, April 8th 1915, aged 37 years, interred at Kemmel, Belgium. Also my beloved brother, Pte TE Brown, KOYLI killed in action at Hill 60, April (-), aged (-).' His brother in law, Private Thomas [Tom] Edward Brown, served in the 2nd Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. Thomas was the 33 year-old son of Samuel and Ann Brown and brother of Ann (Allen). He was killed in action 18th April 1915 and is buried in the Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm). Nottingham Evening Post notice (abridged), 20 April 1915: 'ALLEN killed in action April 8th, Private JWG Allen, 7th (RHR) Sherwood Foresters, husband of Nancie [Ann] Allen, age 37 years.' A second notice published on 22 April gives his address as 26 Leicester Street.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 17 May 1915: ’Brown. At Hill 60, April 18th, my dearly loved brother, and life-long friend of my late husband, Private J Allen, 26, Leicester-street. Re-united. From his sorrowing sister Nancie.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) 'In Memoriam' notice published in the Nottingham Evening Post dated 6th April1917 :- ALLEN. – In proud and cherished memory of my dearly-loved husband, Private James Allen, Robin Hoods, 26, Leicester-street, killed by a sniper April 8th, 1915. Also my dear brother Tom (his life-long friend), killed in action ten days later at Hill 60. Gently they sleep in the grave where they laid them; in their last bivouac, peace amid strife, to fall in again when the Captain who made them shall sound the reveille recalling to life. Mourned unseen. – Wife.” Above notice is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 8 April 1918: ‘Allen. In cherished remembrance of my dearly loved husband and dear daddy, Pte J Allen (Jim), 7th Sherwoods, who gave his life for his comrades, April 8th, 1915. Resting and waiting. Also my own dear brother and his life-long friend, Pte. Tom Brown, KOYLI, killed in action ten days after at Hill 60, April 18th, 1915. Greater love than this no man hath, that he lay down his life for his friends. Wife and little daughter Phyllis.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) His widow was awarded a pension of 17/6d a week for herself and her child with effect from 20 December 1915. Some time after James' death Ann was sent his personal possessions which comprised a knife, pipe, two pipe lighters, identity disc, housewife, pouch, razor, wrist watch and a bundle of letters. Probate: Allen Ann of 26 Leicester-street Nottingham widow died 22 September 1951 Administration Nottingham 20 October to Phyllis Emma Ayers [daughter] married woman. Effects £377 18s. Probate: Ayers Phyllis Emma of 56 Sandbanks Wy Halisham East Sx. Died 19 April 1976 Probate London 7 June £14738.
