Kenneth Harris's Story.
Kenneth Harris Allen was born in Seaforth, Liverpool, on 26th August 1895, the son of George Thomas and Ada Eliza Allen. His father had been born in Kirkburn, Yorkshire, in 1857, and his mother had been born in Liverpool, in 1864. The couple married in 1888, and originally had 7 children, but sadly one of these later died. George Thomas Allen became a Provisions Broker, and by 1911, he was living at “Kirkburn”, 5, Alexandra Road, Waterloo, Liverpool. Their surviving children were James George (born 1890), Eileen Ada (born 1892), Sydney Raymond (born 1894), Kenneth Harris (born 1895), Dudley (born 1899), and Ronald Hare (born 1901). Living with them was their niece Enid Annie Caton (22), who was a Domestic Science Teacher, a Domestic Cook, Maggie Elizabeth Crelly (19), and a Domestic Housemaid, Mary Alice Duffy (18).
Kenneth Harris Allen received his education privately at Bootle Technical School, and on leaving school followed in his father’s footsteps and became a Provisions Broker’s Apprentice, before moving on to become an employee of the Royal Insurance Company, Liverpool. Between 1911-1914, he moved with his family to Birkenhead, and settled at 8, Alexandra Road, Claughton.
On 6th August, 1914, only two days after the outbreak of the Great War, he presented himself for enlistment into 1st/5th (Territorial) Bn Kings (Liverpool) Regiment, giving his home address as 42, Carlton Road, Birkenhead. He was 18 years 11 months old, and was employed as an Insurance Clerk for Royal Insurance. At the time of his enlistment his battalion was mobilizing at its barracks at 65, St. Anne Street, Liverpool, as part of the Liverpool Brigade, West Lancashire Division. In the autumn of 1914, the battalion was sent to Canterbury, Kent, and was drafted over to France on 22nd February, 1915, and disembarked at Havre. Originally it became part of 6th Brigade, 2nd Division, and then it changed over to 165th Brigade, 55th Division. 2051 Private Allen continued to serve with his battalion, seeing action at Festubert, Neuve Chapelle, and Richebourg, and during this time was awarded 48 hours Field Punishment No.2, at Bethune, on 12th March, 1915, for riding on a transport wagon without a permit. On 6th August, 1915, he obtained his commission into the Manchester Regiment. He was Gazetted to the 19th (4th City) Battalion, and returned back to France in February, 1916. This battalion had been raised by the Lord Mayor and city of Manchester, on 28th August, 1914, and was sent to Heaton Park until April, 1915, when it was sent to Belton Park camp, Grantham. Here it became part of 90th Brigade, 30th Division, and was officially taken over by the War Office on 28th August, 1915. In the following month the 30th Division, including the 19th Manchester’s, were sent south to Larkhill, where it completed training before being drafted over to France on 6th November, 1915. Lieutenant Allen joined the battalion at Grantham, and went to Larkhill with it, but for some reason was subsequently temporarily transferred to the 26th (Reserve) Bn. Manchester Regiment, training at Press Heath Camp, Shropshire. He re-joined the battalion when he was drafted back to France, on 14th February, 1916, and continued to serve with it until 1st July, 1916, when he was severely wounded in action. His battalion, as part of 21st Brigade, 30th Division, was attacking the German held position known as the Glatz Redoubt, just in front of the village of Montauban. His brother, Second Lieutenant Sydney Raymond Allen, 16th (1st City) Bn Manchester Regiment, 90th Brigade, 30th Division, was killed in action on the same day during the same action.
Lieutenant Kenneth Harris Allen was evacuated from the battlefield with a perforating gun-shot wound to his left buttock which passed deeply amongst the muscles in the gluteal region. He was sent to a hospital at Boulogne, and on 6th July, 1916, was embarked on board the H.S. Panama. Lieutenant Harris was disembarked at Southampton two days later. At a medical board sat at the 2nd Western General Hospital, Manchester, on 14th August, 1916, it was stated that Lieutenant Allen was not fit enough to be removed from hospital. As his condition improved, he was posted on light duties to the 70th Training Reserve Battalion, stationed at South Camp, Ripon, Yorkshire. Finally, on 10th April, 1917, at a medical board sat at a military hospital at Ripon, he was passed as initially fit for home service. His condition continued to improve, and after a total of 13 months recovering from his wounds, he was fit for active service, and was sent overseas again. Instead of being sent back to France, Lieutenant Allen was posted to the Salonika front in August, 1917, and was posted to the 13th Bn Manchester Regiment. This battalion had been formed at Ashton-under-Lyne, in August, 1914, and was sent to Seaford, where it originally became Army Troops for 25th Division, but was transferred to 66th Brigade, 22nd Division, in place of its sister battalion, the 14th Manchester’s. In November, 1914, it was sent to billets in Eastbourne, where it remained until March, 1915, when it returned to Seaford. Then, in May, 1915, it was sent to Aldershot, and continued training here until early September, 1915, when it was briefly drafted over to France, before finally being transferred over to the Salonika front. Lieutenant Allen served with the 13th Manchester’s until August, 1918, when his battalion was sent to the Western Front where they were absorbed by the newly constituted 9th Bn Manchester Regiment on 13th August, 1918. This battalion had also been raised in Ashton-under-Lyne, and had seen action at Gallipoli, as the 1st/9th Bn, as part of 126th Brigade, 42nd Division. When it arrived in France, in March, 1917, it continued to serve as part of this formation until 19th February, 1918, when it was transferred to 198th Brigade, 66th Division, and absorbed the 2nd/9th Manchester’s, and became known as the 9th Battalion. In April, 1918, it was reduced to a Training Cadre, and on 22nd July, 1918, it became part of 199th Brigade, 66th Division. On 7th October, 1918, Lieutenant Allen was acting as Intelligence Officer in charge of a party of battalion guides looking out in “No-Man’s-Land” for suitable positions for a forth coming advance to take place the following day, when a shell landed in amongst them all, killing and wounding all but one. Lieutenant Allen was severely wounded, and was brought in and evacuated away from the front line. He died as a result of his wounds four days later at No. 58 Casualty Clearing Station, on 11th October, 1918, and was subsequently buried in Plot 8, Row B, Grave 20, Tincourt New British Cemetery, France.
Lieutenant Allen’s personal effects, consisting of letters, 1x metal watch, 1x syringe, 1x cap badge, 1x leather wallet, 4x large regimental buttons, 6x small regimental buttons, a bundle of photos, 2x pipes, 1x pocket knife, 1x cigarette case, and 1x rubber tobacco pouch, were returned to his father in November, 1916. On receiving these things, his father reported that his son’s field glasses and revolver were missing.
His medal entitlement consisted of Memorial Plaque, 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal.
Three of his brothers served in the Great War. Private Dudley Allen served with the 4th Bn Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Lieutenant James George Allen served with the 14th and 19th (3rd City) Bn Kings (Liverpool) Regiment. He had originally seen service in the old Volunteers (pre – Territorial Force), and then went on to serve for five years in the 1st/5th (Territorial) Bn Kings (Liverpool) Regiment. This was followed by four years in the King Edwards – Kings Overseas Dominion Regiment, from which he took his commission into the 14th Bn Kings (Liverpool) Regiment, seeing active service in Salonika. Second Lieutenant Sydney Raymond Allen (mentioned above) 16th (1st City) Bn Manchester Regiment, was killed in action 1st July, 1916. He had been commissioned from the ranks of 1st/6th Kings (Liverpool) Regiment.
Lieutenant Kenneth Harris Allen is commemorated in the “Liverpool’s Scroll of Fame” book.
Family application form requesting Kenneth to be added to the Birkenhead War Memorial.
Headstone picture © Peter Threlfall
Researched and compiled by Peter Threlfall.
Birkenhead News 16 October 1918
Kenneth Harris Allen received his education privately at Bootle Technical School, and on leaving school followed in his father’s footsteps and became a Provisions Broker’s Apprentice, before moving on to become an employee of the Royal Insurance Company, Liverpool. Between 1911-1914, he moved with his family to Birkenhead, and settled at 8, Alexandra Road, Claughton.
On 6th August, 1914, only two days after the outbreak of the Great War, he presented himself for enlistment into 1st/5th (Territorial) Bn Kings (Liverpool) Regiment, giving his home address as 42, Carlton Road, Birkenhead. He was 18 years 11 months old, and was employed as an Insurance Clerk for Royal Insurance. At the time of his enlistment his battalion was mobilizing at its barracks at 65, St. Anne Street, Liverpool, as part of the Liverpool Brigade, West Lancashire Division. In the autumn of 1914, the battalion was sent to Canterbury, Kent, and was drafted over to France on 22nd February, 1915, and disembarked at Havre. Originally it became part of 6th Brigade, 2nd Division, and then it changed over to 165th Brigade, 55th Division. 2051 Private Allen continued to serve with his battalion, seeing action at Festubert, Neuve Chapelle, and Richebourg, and during this time was awarded 48 hours Field Punishment No.2, at Bethune, on 12th March, 1915, for riding on a transport wagon without a permit. On 6th August, 1915, he obtained his commission into the Manchester Regiment. He was Gazetted to the 19th (4th City) Battalion, and returned back to France in February, 1916. This battalion had been raised by the Lord Mayor and city of Manchester, on 28th August, 1914, and was sent to Heaton Park until April, 1915, when it was sent to Belton Park camp, Grantham. Here it became part of 90th Brigade, 30th Division, and was officially taken over by the War Office on 28th August, 1915. In the following month the 30th Division, including the 19th Manchester’s, were sent south to Larkhill, where it completed training before being drafted over to France on 6th November, 1915. Lieutenant Allen joined the battalion at Grantham, and went to Larkhill with it, but for some reason was subsequently temporarily transferred to the 26th (Reserve) Bn. Manchester Regiment, training at Press Heath Camp, Shropshire. He re-joined the battalion when he was drafted back to France, on 14th February, 1916, and continued to serve with it until 1st July, 1916, when he was severely wounded in action. His battalion, as part of 21st Brigade, 30th Division, was attacking the German held position known as the Glatz Redoubt, just in front of the village of Montauban. His brother, Second Lieutenant Sydney Raymond Allen, 16th (1st City) Bn Manchester Regiment, 90th Brigade, 30th Division, was killed in action on the same day during the same action.
Lieutenant Kenneth Harris Allen was evacuated from the battlefield with a perforating gun-shot wound to his left buttock which passed deeply amongst the muscles in the gluteal region. He was sent to a hospital at Boulogne, and on 6th July, 1916, was embarked on board the H.S. Panama. Lieutenant Harris was disembarked at Southampton two days later. At a medical board sat at the 2nd Western General Hospital, Manchester, on 14th August, 1916, it was stated that Lieutenant Allen was not fit enough to be removed from hospital. As his condition improved, he was posted on light duties to the 70th Training Reserve Battalion, stationed at South Camp, Ripon, Yorkshire. Finally, on 10th April, 1917, at a medical board sat at a military hospital at Ripon, he was passed as initially fit for home service. His condition continued to improve, and after a total of 13 months recovering from his wounds, he was fit for active service, and was sent overseas again. Instead of being sent back to France, Lieutenant Allen was posted to the Salonika front in August, 1917, and was posted to the 13th Bn Manchester Regiment. This battalion had been formed at Ashton-under-Lyne, in August, 1914, and was sent to Seaford, where it originally became Army Troops for 25th Division, but was transferred to 66th Brigade, 22nd Division, in place of its sister battalion, the 14th Manchester’s. In November, 1914, it was sent to billets in Eastbourne, where it remained until March, 1915, when it returned to Seaford. Then, in May, 1915, it was sent to Aldershot, and continued training here until early September, 1915, when it was briefly drafted over to France, before finally being transferred over to the Salonika front. Lieutenant Allen served with the 13th Manchester’s until August, 1918, when his battalion was sent to the Western Front where they were absorbed by the newly constituted 9th Bn Manchester Regiment on 13th August, 1918. This battalion had also been raised in Ashton-under-Lyne, and had seen action at Gallipoli, as the 1st/9th Bn, as part of 126th Brigade, 42nd Division. When it arrived in France, in March, 1917, it continued to serve as part of this formation until 19th February, 1918, when it was transferred to 198th Brigade, 66th Division, and absorbed the 2nd/9th Manchester’s, and became known as the 9th Battalion. In April, 1918, it was reduced to a Training Cadre, and on 22nd July, 1918, it became part of 199th Brigade, 66th Division. On 7th October, 1918, Lieutenant Allen was acting as Intelligence Officer in charge of a party of battalion guides looking out in “No-Man’s-Land” for suitable positions for a forth coming advance to take place the following day, when a shell landed in amongst them all, killing and wounding all but one. Lieutenant Allen was severely wounded, and was brought in and evacuated away from the front line. He died as a result of his wounds four days later at No. 58 Casualty Clearing Station, on 11th October, 1918, and was subsequently buried in Plot 8, Row B, Grave 20, Tincourt New British Cemetery, France.
Lieutenant Allen’s personal effects, consisting of letters, 1x metal watch, 1x syringe, 1x cap badge, 1x leather wallet, 4x large regimental buttons, 6x small regimental buttons, a bundle of photos, 2x pipes, 1x pocket knife, 1x cigarette case, and 1x rubber tobacco pouch, were returned to his father in November, 1916. On receiving these things, his father reported that his son’s field glasses and revolver were missing.
His medal entitlement consisted of Memorial Plaque, 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, and Victory Medal.
Three of his brothers served in the Great War. Private Dudley Allen served with the 4th Bn Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Lieutenant James George Allen served with the 14th and 19th (3rd City) Bn Kings (Liverpool) Regiment. He had originally seen service in the old Volunteers (pre – Territorial Force), and then went on to serve for five years in the 1st/5th (Territorial) Bn Kings (Liverpool) Regiment. This was followed by four years in the King Edwards – Kings Overseas Dominion Regiment, from which he took his commission into the 14th Bn Kings (Liverpool) Regiment, seeing active service in Salonika. Second Lieutenant Sydney Raymond Allen (mentioned above) 16th (1st City) Bn Manchester Regiment, was killed in action 1st July, 1916. He had been commissioned from the ranks of 1st/6th Kings (Liverpool) Regiment.
Lieutenant Kenneth Harris Allen is commemorated in the “Liverpool’s Scroll of Fame” book.
Family application form requesting Kenneth to be added to the Birkenhead War Memorial.
Headstone picture © Peter Threlfall
Researched and compiled by Peter Threlfall.
Birkenhead News 16 October 1918
BIRKENHEAD OFFICER DIES OF WOUNDS.
Lieut. Kenneth H. Allen, third son of Mr. and Mrs. George T. Allen, of Alexandra Road, Claughton, died of wounds in France on the 11th inst. at the age of 23 years. He joined the K.L.R. on August 6th, 1914, going to France with his battalion in February, 1915, and was at the front until August, 1915, when he was granted a commission, and gazetted to the Manchester Regiment. He was severely wounded on the first day of the battle of the Somme, July, 1st, 1916, on which day one of his brothers, Lieut. S. R. Allen, also of the Manchesters, was killed. After about a year he went to Salonika, returning to France some few months ago.
Picture and newspaper article by Chris Booth.
Picture and newspaper article by Chris Booth.