Photo: Geordie at War Project
J. Allen
Coldstream Guards
12th December 1917 age 45
In remembrance
from his loving wife
and family.
Brenda McMahon has submitted the following :-
John was born (c) 1872 in Berwick on Tweed. He was a labourer by trade. John was a Labourer at the Spillers and RHM Flour Mills on the Gateshead Quayside, now known as the Baltic Art Centre.
On 27 August 1894 at the age of 22 he joined the Coldstream Guards in Newcastle. His character was noted as good. He served in South Africa for 2 years and was awarded the King’s South Africa Medal with clasp for his service between 1899-1902. He was discharged from the service on 26 May 1906.
On 14 April 1904 he married Frances Elizabeth Maw in Sunderland and the couple went on to have 3 children, Mary Ann, Louisa Lucy and John.
Soon after the outbreak of war in 1914 he rejoined the Coldstream Guards at Houghton le Spring on 3 September.
His record shows him to be 5’ 11” tall, fresh complexion, blue eyes. He had a crown tattoo on his right forearm, birthmark on his right thigh and a scar on his left forearm. His religion was Church of England. However within a year he was discharged as being physically unfit for war service after being wounded.
On 29 October 1914 whilst in the trenches at Zoundebecke? he received a gunshot wound to his right elbow. Although the injury was treated the damage (he had an operation to remove a piece of bone) did not heal properly and in fact, was fixed at a right angle leaving him permanently disabled, otherwise his general health was considered very good. He was medically discharged on 5 August 1915.
By 8 October 1915 John appeared at Sunderland court charged with assaulting his wife, Frances. He was found guilty and sentenced to 2 months hard labour in H.M. Prison Durham. It was stated on documentation that the man was a ‘thorough waster’ although his wife was considered a ‘decent hard working woman’. His wife was allocated 7/6d pension for herself and 3 children (this later increased slightly) although John forfeited his pension whilst in prison. After his release it was recorded there was no trace of him.
In September 1917 he turned up and was shown as being treated in a sanatorium for tubercule of the lung although this was clearly stated was not attributable to his army service.
John died 12th December 1917. He is commemorated at Brookwood 1914-1918 Memorial Cemetery in Surrey and is shown on the Addenda Panel.
Frances living at 28 Fulwell Road Monkwearmouth added the following words to his headstone in Gateshead East Cemetery:-
from his loving wife
and family
John has not been found on any Gateshead memorial but there is a J. Allen on All Saints Church Fulwell Road Monkwearmouth M46.04
