ALLEN, Edward, George and Henry

Edward, one of the sons of Henry Allen, was born at Inverell. At the time he enlisted in December 1915 his name was recorded as Edward Ernest Allen. He joined the First Contingent of The Kurrajongs departing Inverell on 12 January 1916 for the Narrabri Camp via Warialda and Moree.

He became a member of the 33rd Battalion, C Company but was discharged on 27 March 1916 at Armidale. Undeterred, he re-enlisted as Ernest Edward Allen at Bundaberg, Qld. in September joining the Machine Gun Company 12. His unit sailed from Australia in RMS Osterley in February 1917. Edward served in France until 1919 when he returned to Australia. He took part in a ‘Welcome Home’ procession through Inverell for Private George Cartwright VC in May 1919. After the War he lived at Leichardt NSW.

Edward’s brothers, George and Henry also served during WW1. George enlisted at Liverpool in 1915 and served with the 17th Battalion, 5th Reinforcement in Egypt and France. He had numerous health issues and eventually returned to Australia. He was medically discharged in 1918. George’s name is inscribed on the Inverell Honor Roll.

Henry enlisted at Armidale in October 1916 and served with the 46th Battalion in France. He was wounded in action, gassed in January 1918, and invalided back to England where he was admitted to the Military Hospital, Colchester with a gunshot wound to his spine. Henry returned to Australia and whilst waiting for surgery, was given a ‘Welcome Home;’ at Inverell in June 1918. After his surgery he died on 6 July 1918 and was buried at Rookwood Cemetery, Sydney.

Private Henry Allen has his name recorded on the Inverell Honor Roll and Cenotaph. In 1919 he was one of the men for whom a memorial tree was planted in Kurrajong Parade, Inverell.