William Stanley's Story.
Lieutenant William Stanley Allan was born in 1893 in Rock Ferry and was the son of James and Jane Allan. In 1901 he was living with his mother Jane, brothers Lawson and Sydney and sister Eileen. The children have a governess and lived in ‘Highlands’ Reservoir Road, Prenton.
He was a pupil at Birkenhead School between 1903 and 1908. He was a member of the football XV. He later attended Liverpool University after which he worked in the office of the Liverpool and London and Globe Insurance Co Ltd.
In 1911 William is living in the family home at ‘Maplehome’ 98 Bidston Road. He was employed as an Insurance Clerk and staying in the home with his sister. They employed a cook and a housemaid.
Before the outbreak of war he was a private in the 4th Cheshire Regiment and later held a commission in the 7th Kings (Liverpool Regiment).
In March 1915 he went to France with the 7th Kings (Liverpool Regiment) but 2 months later Lieutenant Allan was killed in an attack while leading his platoon in a night attack on the German trenches at Festubert on the 17th May 1917.
He is remembered with honour at Le Touret Memorial, France.
His brother Lawson Allan was killed in 1917. His brother Sydney served with the Kings Liverpool Regiment (10th Scottish) but was discharged as medically unfit.
Research by Chris