Photo : Wayland

Medal Index Card

Eton College Register Entry

Newcastle Journal Monday 16th August 1915

Newcastle Journal Monday 14th December 1914

Bertram Allgood was the youngest born at Blindburn, of three children on the 11th February 1874, and baptised on the 10th March 1874, at Simonburn, the second son of the late Major General George Allgood, CB., born at Nunwick on the 1st November 1827, died 19th October 1906, [formerly the Chief Constable of Northumberland from the 21st October 1869, but resigned due to ill health in January 1886], and his wife Elizabeth nee Clayton, born 1836 at Humshaugh, [baptised 31st January 1837, died 14th February 1874, three days after the birth of Bertram], 2nd daughter of the late Reverend Richard Clayton [died 8th October 1856], and Mary Anne nee Laing Clayton. George and Elizabeth were married on Thursday 24th July 1862 at Warden. The other children were Adrian George born 1868 in India, died 26th May 1920, and Maud Allgood, born 1870 died on the 15th January 1873 at Blindburn Hall.
George was one of 9 children, one of his brothers was the Reverend James Allgood [born 3rd June 1826, who assisted in George's wedding ceremony. Miss Allgood sister to the bridegroom was one of the Bridesmaids. They went to Windermere for their Honeymoon].

Bertram's brother Captain Adrian George Allgood, born 28th July 1867, enrolled on the 15th July 1880, was in the Royal Navy.

Major-General George Allgood joined the Bengal Army in December 1846, as a Commissioned Ensign, and served in the 49th Bengal Native Infantry at the siege and capture of Moultau, and the action of Soorajkhoond (slightly wounded, Medal with clasp). Promoted Lieutenant September 1848. served with the Quarter Master General's Department as A.Q.M.G. to General Sir Colin Campbell throughout the Indian Mutiny 1857-59, and was present at the Relief of Lucknow, including the storming of the Sekunderbagh and the Shah Nujeef; the Battle of Cawnpore (slightly wounded), the action at Kala Nuddee, the Siege and Capture of Lucknow, the battle of Bareilly, and the affair at Shahjehanpore; served on during the Oude Campaign, and present at he engagements at Doondea Khera, Burjeedia, Musjeedia, and Ruptee (several times Mentioned in Despatches, Brevet of Major, Medal with two clasps); served as D.Q.M.G. to General Sir John Michel during the China Campaign 1860, and was present at the capture of the Taku Forts, and in the advance on and occupation of Pekin (Mentioned in Despatches, Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel, Medal with two clasps), served in the Umbeyla Campaign with the Peshawur Valley Field Force as A.Q.M.G., and was present at the capture of the Crag Picquet (slightly wounded, Mentioned in Despatches, Medal with clasp, and appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath), promoted Colonel, April 1868, Major-General, November 1869, retired 1869.

Silver Cigarette Box
A fine quality Cigarette Box, 89mm x 63mm x 32mm, silver (Hallmarks for London 1902), the lid and sides depicting a tavern scene, the base inscribed 'Major General Allgood, C.B., Commander A.G. Allgood, R.N., R. Allgood, Royal Irish Rifles, to A.J. Allgood, 22nd Feb: 1904.' £150-200. Was sold by Spinks in 2013 at London.

The Allgood family were intimately connected with St John Lee Parish in Hexham. The chalice used in that church in the Holy Communion was the gift of his [General Allgood's] ancestor, Robert Allgood, in 1758. General Allgood often worshipped in the church, and gave a large contribution towards its restoration in 1885. Almost the last week of his life he sent with his sister at the 'Hermitage'. His book 'The China War' contains his letters home and the account of his own and others' doings in that war. He took part in no less than 23 engagements during the Indian Mutiny.

Bertram Allgood is a nephew of Miss Allgood of the 'Hermitage' Hexham, and a cousin of Mrs John C. Straker, of the Leazes, Hexham, whose son Lieutenant Ian Straker, of the 9th Lancers, has made a good recovery from the wounds he received at the battle of the Marne, and is expected to rejoin his regiment.

Source : Newcastle Chronicle Saturday 12/12/1914.

Bertram Allgood attended Eton from the Lent Half (term) of 1888 to Michaelmas Half 1891. His housemaster and tutor was Raymond Coxe Radcliffe (R.C.R).

His entry in the School Clerk’s Register states that for the last years of his time at Eton he was part of the Army Class. There are some papers on this Army Class, which seems to have been a special set of boys dedicated to joining the army after leaving Eton.

Bertram Allgood became a career soldier who served in both India and Ireland.

He enjoyed hunting and polo and was a member of the Military and Naval Club at 36 Pall Mall, London. S.W.

Bertram Allgood was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Northumberland Artillery Militia since 1895, before being gazetted a commission in the Royal Irish Rifles Regiment, South Africa and India on the 15th May 1897. Lieutenant on the 10th August 1898 and Captain on the 6th February 1904.

During the South African War, he was serving with the 1st Battalion at Calcutta and he continued to serve in India until 1905, when he reported for duty to the Depot at Belfast.

Bertram returned to India but came back again to Belfast before serving for a time with the 2nd Battalion at Dover.

He was appointed Adjutant of the 4th Battalion on the 19th November 1911 at Newtownards and he kept that appointment until he retired from the Army in February 1914 and joined the Reserve of Officers.

On the 8th April 1913, Captain Bertram Allgood married Isobel (Isa) Edith Cochrane Bayly, born 21st May 1883, baptised 28th June 1883 at Paddington Holy Trinity Church, (daughter of the late Arthur Octavius Bayly and Mrs Caroline Katherine Laura Mary Bayly), at St Simons in Kensington and Chelsea, [she was residing at 7 Cranley Place, Kensington], and in August 1914 their daughter, Elizabeth Mary Cochrane Allgood was born, she was baptised on the 21st September 1914 at St Simons, Chelsea. Bertram was on leave in the UK from his Battalion to get married and was boarding at 34 Milner Street, Chelsea.

At the outbreak of the First World War Captain Allgood was called up for service and joined the 3rd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles on the 14th August 1914, he went to the Front with the 1st Battalion on the 7th November.

Captain Allgood was shot through the heart by a sniper while taking his men into the trenches on the 6th December 1914 (in some reports the date of death is recorded as the 7th December). [The reason for the discrepancy, is War Diaries started days at 6 am, for a 24 hour period, hence the day query]. He was the first officer serving with the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles to be killed during the First World War.

There was a Memorial Service held at the St John Lee Church, Hexham on the 13th December 1914.

Hexham Courant 19/12/1914 reports memorial service for Captain Allgood:

ALLGOOD, Bertram
Capt., 1st Battn. (83rd Foot) The Royal Irish Rifles, 2nd son of the late Major-Gen. Allgood, C.B., I.A.; born 11 Feb. 1874; educated Eton; gazetted 2nd Lieutenant Royal Irish Rifles from the Militia, 15 May, 1897, promoted Lieutenant 10 Aug. 1898, and Captain 6 Feb. 1904, served in India for several years, was appointed Adjutant to the Special Reserve 19 Dec. 1911, retired in Feb. 1914, joining the Reserve of Officers, was called up on the outbreak of war, served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 7 Nov. 1914, and was killed in action near Ypres 7 December following. Buried at Estaires. He married in April 1913, Isa Cochrane, daughter of the late Arthur Bayley, and had a daughter born in Aug. 1914.

de Ruvigny's Roll of Honour: part two, page 5

Captain Allgood’s widow Isabel later remarried a Charles Richard Shireff, [born on the 4th May 1877 at Calcutta, and baptised on the 4th September 1877, at Sindoorie, Bengal, India, he died on the 22nd April 1936], on the 4th May 1920 at St Stephen's, Gloucester Road, Kensington and Chelsea. Charles was the son of son of the late Mr. William Shirreff, of Jessore, Bengal, and of Mrs. Shirreff, of Haven Green, Ealing, to Isa, widow of Capt. Bertram Allgood, Royal Irish Rifles, and daughter of the late Mr. Bayly and of Mrs. Lyde, of Egerton Gardens, S.W.

Charles Richard Shireff was a pensioner at Trinity College 30th June 1896. Son of William of Millthorpe, Horsham, Sussex. born May 4th 1877, in Calcutta. School, educated at Charterhouse. Matric. Michs. 1896. Second Lieutenant in the Durham Light Infantry 1900. Served in the South African War, 1898-1901 (D.L.I. and 23rd Battalion Mounted Infantry). Retired, 1906. Served in the Great War, 1914-19 as a Captain in the D.L.I.).

In 1939, Isabel [now widowed], was residing at Red House, Charlton Kings Urban District, Gloucestershire, with Elizabeth Mary Allgood, born 7th August 1914, [her daughter from her previous marriage], who was a Voluntary Aid Detachment nurse in WW2, and a Rosemary June Shirreff, born 27th June 1924, died 1994.
Isabel later returned and resided at 11 Onslow Square, back in Kensington in 1953. She died in 1977.

Sources: Eton College Archives

Acknowledgements : Susan Carmichael

Bertram Allgood's is remembered at Birtley on B34.01 B34.06 Hexham on H51.03, H51.06, H51.26 and H51.51 and at Simonburn on S32.02

The War Dead of North Down and Ards
The CWGC entry for Captain Allgood