militarycross

Lieutenant Arthur Hewitt Allen, MC

1st Bn, North Staffordshire Regiment, attached 72nd Coy, Machine Gun Corps (MCG)

More information at: www.wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/allied/view.php?u...


Information from the London Gazette:

Commissioned Second Lieutenant: 23 July 1915 (London Gazette, 4 August, p. 7657):
www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29250/supplements/7657/

Military Cross (apparently for an action at Messines Ridge, but no date is given); award announced in the London Gazette, 26 September 1917, p. 9972: www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30308/supplements/9972/

Also in the Edinburgh Gazette, 27 September 1917, p. 2052: www.edinburgh-gazette.co.uk/issues/13146/pages/2052/

Citation (London Gazette, 9 January 1918, pp. 582-583):

T./Lt. Arthur Hewitt Allen, N. Staff R., attd. M.G. Corps.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion in leading his company in an attack. He directed an attack on an enemy machine gun , which was holding up our advance, captured the gun and killed or captured the crew. Afterwards believing himself to be the only officer surviving in the attacking companies, he directed their fire on enemy machine guns and snipers, moving from shell hole to shell hole with utter disregard of his own personal danger to satisfy himself that the line was being properly maintained. Later, he was knocked down and severely bruised by a shell, but refused to leave his company and directed the carrying of rations to the front line.

www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30466/supplements/582/

Also published in the Edinburgh Gazette, 10 January 1918, pp. 242-243:
www.edinburgh-gazette.co.uk/issues/13192/pages/242/

Leaves the MGC (London Gazette, 5 December 1917, p. 12759):
Lt. A. H. Allen, M.C..(N. Staff. R.) ceases to belong to the Corps on rejoining his regular unit. 26 Nov. 1917.
www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30414/supplements/12759/

Relinquishes commission, retains the rank of Lt., 11 October 1921 (London Gazette, 11 October 1921, p. 8040): www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/32484/supplements/8040/

Gazette entry for the military Cross is here www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30389/supplements/11951/p...

"'T./2nd Lt. Robert Angles, attd. York & Lane.R."

1918 entry www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30590/supplements/3596
19th March 1918
AWARDED THE MILITARY CROSS.
T./2nd Lt. Robert Angles, attd. York &
Lanc. Rgt.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to
duty. When the enemy attacked his position
he showed the utmost coolness and courage
in dealing with the situation. Though
attacked with trench mortars, flammenwerfer
and machine guns, by his excellent leadership
and disregard of danger, and the keenness
with which he inspired his men, he repelled
the attack.

MC Citation

London Gazette, 22 March 1918, p. 3596:
"T./2nd Lt. Robert Angles, attd. York & Lanc. Rgt.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When the enemy attacked his position he showed the utmost coolness and courage in dealing with the situation. Though attacked with trench mortars, flammenwerfer and machine guns, by his excellent leadership and disregard of danger, and the keenness with which he inspired his men, he repelled the attack."
www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30590/supplements/3596

Burial Hartlepool (stranton) Cemetery Viii. B. 86.

Entry in CWGC database:

ANGLES, ROBERT
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Date of Death: 13/11/1917
Age: 21
Regiment/Service: York and Lancaster Regiment
Awards: M C
Cemetery: Hartlepool (Stranton) Cemetery
Grave Reference: VIII. B. 86.
Additional Information: Son of Thomas and Elsie Angles, of 6, Ullswater Rd., Gray's Estate, Stockton-on-Tees. Born at West Hartlepool.
Link: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/355091/ANGLES,%20ROBERT

His name appears on the West Hartlepool Memorial:

www.wigginton-york.co.uk/Hartlepool/hartlepo.htm

1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=78010

I have found some information on the Captain, which i have put onto the Lives of WW1 website livesofthefirstworldwar.org/lifestory/27037

John Frederick Whitacre Allen. Born 26th March 1890, oldest son of [then] Col.[later Brig. Gen.] Alfred James Whitacre Allen [b.1857 d.1939] and Mary Emily Allen nee Hudson [b.1859 India d.1913 Surrey]. I have not been able to find him in any census so there is a possibility that he was born and lived abroad with his family as his father was, as he, too, would be, a career officer. He marries to Helen Florence Bell in the third quarter of 1919 at Maidstone, Kent. London Gazette entries; Sept 1911 - The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). The under mentioned 2nd Lieuts. to be Lieuts. J F W Allen. Dated 16th Sept 1911. June 1915 - The Bufs (East Kent Regiment). The under mentioned Lieuts. J F W Allen. Dated 28th April 1915. July 1915 – The Bufs (East Kent Regiment) The under mentioned Lieuts. (Temporary Captains) to be Captains John F W Allen and to remain seconded. Dated 29th May 1915. April 1917 – East Kent Regt. Capt J F W Allen MC is seconded for service under the Colonial Office. Dated 21st Feb 1921 February 1920 – Capt. J F W Allen MC, E. Kent Regt. vacates his appointment at an Officers’ Instructional School. Dated 4th December 1919. January 1923 - The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) The under mentioned Captains are seconded while students at the Staff College..... J F W Allen MC. Dated 22nd Jan 1923. November 1938 – The under mentioned to be to be Colonels ...... Lt Col. & Btn. Col. (Temp. Brig.) J F W Allen M.C., late The Buffs, with seniority 27th April 1938. Died March 1976.

i have found his baptism in India in 1890.

Well done @Deborah Cameron. I've now found him in the 1911 census as well. Living in barracks but the 84 pages of the census do not contain the Enumerator's page so I can't tell where it was.