Families in Service

Monday 1st March 1915: Sergeant Albert Allen, of the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, is home from the Front, suffering from injuries to the eyes. He is a son of Mrs Allen of Woburn-road, Luton, and when war broke out his battalion was stationed in South Africa. they answered the call and after a short sojourn in England went to the Front on 14th October. The battalion had been nineteen days in the trenches when they were given a rest. They were billeted in houses behind the firing line and on 14th November - the first day of their rest - Sergeant Allen received severe injuries to the eyes, caused by the bursting of a gas tank in the house in which he was billeted.

Mrs Allen has another son, Private Walter Allen, who joined Lord Kitchener's Army, and was sent out to the Front with a draft of the 2nd Bedfords, having left England a fortnight ago. He served in the South African War. Company Quarter Master Sergeant Mart is a son-in-law of Mrs Allen, who was attached to the 4th Battalion of the Bedfords, but is now with the 12th Battalion, doing yeoman service for his King and country. He has four brothers in the same battalion, who have all reached the rank of sergeant, and another brother in the 1st Battalion, while yet another brother of his is serving in the Navy(1).

Source: Luton News 11th March 1915

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(1) Albert Allen seems to have survived the war; 3/8671 Private Walter Allen, who may the Walter referred to above, died on 10th May 1920 and is buried in Crawley Green Road Cemetery. He is described as attached to 319th Motor Transport Company, Royal Army Service Corps, he was 49 and married to E Allen of 22 Warwick Road, Luton. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission entry for him states that he served in the South African Campaign. Company Sergeant Major Frederick Charles Mart of 4th Battalion was killed in action on 29th April 1917 and is buried in Bailleul Road East Cemetery, Saint-Laurent-Blangy.