Charles Allan

Charles Allan was born at Willington, County Durham, in 1897, one of 10 children all of whom survived, he was the 3rd born son of 5 and had 2 elder and 3 younger sisters. His father Charles Robert Allan and mother Annie Mary Slack who were both natives of Willington born 1861 and 1868 respectively, married in the district of Durham in 1886. In 1891 they were living at 9, Low Willington next door to his parents and he was employed as a coke drawer, they later moved to 48, Commercial Street and by 1911 they were back at 18, Low Willington. Charles (14) was a scholar, George (19) and John(16) were both employed as general labourers at the colliery, their father still worked at the coke ovens.

Charles Allan left his employment as a sulphur ammonia maker and enlisted at Bishop Auckland, February 28th 1916 aged 19 years 4 months of age. September 11th 1916 he was assigned as Private G/27160 to the Royal Regiment of Artillery at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland as a gunner. Transferred to the training reserve he remained in England undergoing training until May 10th 1917 when as part of the British Expeditionary Force he departed for the Western Front.

Whilst on active service he was transferred firstly to the 9th Essex Regiment then to “D” Coy 1st Battalion Norfolk Regiment, wounded he was evacuated back through the lines and shipped back to England for treatment at Wharncliffe War Hospital, Sheffield. Once sufficiently recovered he was given a furlough to return home to Willington from December 8th 1917 until December 17th 1917. With a change of service number to Private 521771 he was sent to Felixstowe where he joined the Labour Corps, January 27th 1918 and was moved between various units.

Given another period of furlough to return home November 15th 1918 until November 19th 1918, he boarded the train but never returned to camp as he absconded November 20th 1918 and after 14 days, absent without leave, he was arrested December 4th 1918 by P.C. Palmister at Willington, attended court, was remanded to await the arrival of an escort and returned to camp. He was awarded 14 days' punishment as of December 13th 1918.

February 5th 1919 he was posted to the Eastern Command Labour Corps and again moved between various units until he was transferred with the rank of Acting Corporal to the the Buffs where he was attested July 26th 1919 at the No.1 Rest Camp at Canterbury. Having reverted to Private October 10th 1919 at the same camp, “for absence,” he was transferred to Class Z and demobilised November 15th 1919 and allowed to return to his home address of 18, Low Willington, County Durham. Recipient of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

During December 1919 he married at Lanchester Martha Johnson, born April 30th 1899 at Medomsley, County Durham and with whom he had 3 known children:- Mary Ann;
1920-2007;
Charles David Allan;
Born June 25th 1923 died during WW2 whilst serving as Private 4468336 Durham Light Infantry, April 19th 1944. His body was buried along with those of his commanding officer and 4 comrades on the battlefield. They were brought into Kohima War Cemetery, India, for reburial, October 21st 1944. Their remains were identified by means of details on a piece of paper inside a bottle buried with their commanding officer Major P. Allen and crosses on the graves. He is at rest in grave IV. F. 7. and was 21 years old. An additional inscription added to his military headstone and paid for by his family reads, "No One On Earth Can Take His Place. In God’s Own Time We Shall Meet Again;"
and Leslie Allan;
Born 1925 died 1926.

Martha Allan nee Johnson died September 24th 1984 aged 85 years, Charles Allan in February 1986, both registered in East Sussex.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

Charles David Allan is remembered at Tow Law on T57.01 and T57.09