Lawrence's Story.
Lawrence Allen was born in 1877 in Wexford, Ireland to parents James and Mary. Little is known of his early life but in 1896 he joined the 11th Hussars. He went out to South Africa with his regiment and he fought in the Second Boer War earning the King’s South Africa medal with 1901 and 1902 clasps. He also received clasps for action at Belfast (South Africa), Orange Free State, Defence of Ladysmith and Laing’s neck.After the war he settled in Birkenhead where he married Elizabeth McGuinness on 14th January 1904. They went on to have six children, two dying at an early age. By 1911 the family were living at 12 School Place, Birkenhead and Lawrence was employed as a dock labourer.
Shortly after the start of the First World War Lawrence enlisted in the Army, firstly with the Army Service Corps then transferring to Royal Field Artillery. He arrived in the Egyptian theatre of war on 15th November 1915 before moving to Salonika.
Lawrence Allen died on the 28th September 1918 from malaria. His widow, Elizabeth, at the time lived at 12, St. Anne Street, Birkenhead and was left to bring up their four children.
Note: Throughout his historical records Driver Allen’s first name is spelled as either Lawrence or Laurence. For the purpose of consistency I have referred to him as Lawrence.
Birkenhead News 09 November 1918
DIED FROM FEVER.
Mrs. Allen, 58, Back St. Anne Street, has received news of the death of her husband. Gunner L. Allen, who succumbed to malarial fever. He had been in Salonika three years without leave. He joined up in 1914, being an old soldier of the 11th Hussars. He was in the siege of Ladysmith during the Boer War. He leaves a wife and four children to mourn his loss.
Research, Lawrence’s photograph and newspaper article by Chris Booth.