militarycross

Captain Bowen's Military Cross was gazetted on 18th July 1917. The citation says that "He led his men with great skill and courage. On four separate occasions he advanced his company and had to dig in on new lines. His personal example was of the utmost value to his men under very trying conditions." He was Lt. (acting Cpt.) at that time.

Help piece together the Life Stories of more than 8 million men and women who made a contribution during the First World War at www.livesofthefirstworldwar.org/

The MC (no citation) is first mentioned in the London Gazette at the beginning of 1918:

"Awarded the Military Cross [...] T./Capt. (A./Maj.) Ernest Mortimer Allen, Hamps. R." - Supplement to the London Gazette, 1 January 1918, p. 30: www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30450/supplements/30

See also, the sales catalogue for his medals (they apparently sold for £1,000 in 2009): content.yudu.com/Library/A1iejc/OrdersDecorationsand/reso...

Result (Lot 611): www.dnw.co.uk/auction-archive/catalogue-archive/results.p...

The catalogue says that as a Lieutenant in the 14th Bn, Hampshire Regiment, he served from the 3rd March 1916 on the Western Front and was wounded in the Battle of the Somme.

It is possible to trace certain other aspects of Captain Allen's military career from various entries in the London Gazette:

“The undermentioned to be actg. Capts. whilst comdg. a Co. :-- […] Temp. Lt. E. M. Allen. 2 Dec. 1916.” – Supplement to the London Gazette, 20 January 1917, p. 812: www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29910/supplements/812

“Temp. Lt. E. M. Allen (since apptd. actg. Capt. whilst comdg. a Co.) to be temp. Capt. to complete estabt. 4 Sept. 1916.” – Supplement to the London Gazette, 8 February 1917, p. 1366: www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29934/supplements/1366

“Temp. Capt. E. M. Allen to be actg. Maj. While 2nd in comd. of a Bn. 5 Aug. 1917.” – Supplement to the London Gazette, 12 November 1917, p. 11665: www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30376/supplements/11665

“Temp. Capt. (actg. Maj.) E. M. Allen to be actg. Lt.-Col. while comdg. a Bn. 7 Oct. 1917 to 20 Oct. 1917, when he reverts to the actg. rank of Maj. while empld. as 2nd in comd.” - Supplement to the London Gazette, 31 January 1918, p. 1514: www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30503/supplements/1514

“Temp. Capt. (actg. Maj.) E. M. Allen, M.C., to be temp. Maj. 28 Sept. 1917.” Supplement to the London Gazette, 8 March 1918, p. 3106: www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30569/supplements/3106

“Temp. Maj. E. M. Allen, M.C., from a Serv. Bn., to be temp. Maj. 24 Feb. 1918, with seniority 28 Sept. 1917.” - Supplement to the London Gazette, 8 May 1918, p. 5545: www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30674/supplements/5545

“Temp. Maj. E. M. Allen, M.C., relinquishes his commission on completion of service, 7 Mar. 1920, and retains the rank of Maj.” – Supplement to the London Gazette, 19 April 1920, p. 4564: www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31869/supplements/4564

"Hampshire R. -- Maj. Ernest Mortimer Allen, M.C., late Serv. Bns., to be Maj., 22nd Mar. 1923, with seniority 20th Aug. 1920." - Supplement to the London Gazette, 8 May 1923: www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/32821/pages/3314

Death records show Ernest Mortimer Allen was born 25th Oct 1889 and died in Torbay in 1978.

Census and birth records show he was born in Oxford. The son of Hugh James and Catherine Elizabeth Allen.

On 20th June 1934 he was a passenger aboard the MS Erria bound for Bangkok. His home address was given as 28 Plantation Road, Oxford. He was contracted to land at Port Swettenham (now Port Klang) and his occupation was shown as Planter. His country of intended residence was shown as FMS (Malaysia).

His medals appear to have been sold content.yudu.com/Library/A1iejc/OrdersDecorationsand/reso...

Help piece together the Life Stories of more than 8 million men and women who made a contribution during the First World War at www.livesofthefirstworldwar.org/

Isaac Cubit Raymond Atkin the fifth of six children born 2nd January 1892 at Springfield, Malahide, Ontario, Canada to William Isaac Atkin [b.1854 d.1937] and Martha Louise Atkin nee Colk [b.1850 d.1940]. The 1901 census of Canada shows him living in Springfield village with his parents and two of his older siblings. His father’s occupation is recorded as Hog Buyer. His “Officers’ Declaration Papers” for the Canadian Expeditionary Force of 24th May 1916 show that he was already in the military and had been for four months, holding the rank of Lieutenant. At the time, he was living at 406 3rd Avenue, New Westminster, British Colombia, Canada. He gives his occupation as Banker. On 27th October 1917 he was awarded the Military Cross. The citation reads “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of a company in an attack. Though the enemy put up a fierce resistance, and later launched a violent counter-attack, the result was a gain of fifty yards on the company front.” Further to that, on 3rd November 1918 he was awarded a Bar to his Military Cross. The citation reads “For conspicuous gallantry and good leadership. This officer in command of a company had to clear a wood very strongly held by machine gun posts. Moving by section rushes, he got within 50 yards of the wood, and then himself led a charge, capturing many prisoners, four trench mortars and seven machine guns. The capture of the wood was the key to the attack, and it was due to his efforts that the operation was successful.” On 27th September 1922 he marries Alice Winifred Flanagan at L’Ascension Anglican Church, Outremont, Québec, Canada. The couple have two children. By 1930 he is living in South Orange, Essex County, USA and by 1940 he is living in Short Hills, New Jersey, USA, and working for JP Morgan. Died on 25th January 1957 at Short Hill, New Jersey, USA.