Private Frederick James Allen

Private Frederick James Allen ( 4728) was born in London, the son of James and Annie Allen of 9 Chaplin Road, Willesden Green. An engine driver by trade, he enlisted in NSW and served in 53 Battalion of the Australian Infantry in France and Germany during 1916-1918. He was captured on 20 July 1916 at Laventie in France and was taken to Gladbach, a prisoner-of-war camp, Munster, Westphalia, where he worked on a sawmill labour gang. He escaped on 11 September 1918 and reached Winterswik, Holland, on 17 September and arrived at Gravesend, England, on 12 October and was admitted to hospital seven days later.
Aged 28, Private Allen died of influenza and bronchial pneumonia at Town Hall Hospital, Torquay, England, on 25 October 1918. He was accorded a full military funeral attended by his parents, relations and ‘2 nurses and 50 patients from Hospital’ and was buried at Torquay Cemetery with ‘a large number of relations and friends….present at the graveside’.
Private Allen was brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for War for his ‘gallant conduct and determination displayed in escaping or attempting to escape from captivity’. He described his capture and escape in a letter held in the Memorial’s collection.