James Henry Leslie Allen
Born 13 Nov 1914 - Died 12 Jul 1940
- Service number
- WWII 39957 AWMM
- WWII NZ39957 AWMM
- Also known as
- Harry AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Last rank
- Flying Officer/Military AWMM Royal Air Force, No. 151 Squadron AWMM
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
About
- Title
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- Forenames
- James Henry Leslie AWMM
- Surname
- Allen AWMM
- Ingoa
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- Also known as
- Harry AWMM
- Service number
- WWII 39957 AWMM
- WWII NZ39957 AWMM
- Gender
- Male AWMM
- Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
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- Religion
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Images
Documents
About birth
- Birth
- 13 Nov 1914 AWMM
Remuera, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM - Date of birth
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- Place of birth
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- Birth notes
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- Address before enlistment
- WW2 Mr L. Holt (uncle), Liverpool, England AWMM
- Post war occupation
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- Next of kin
- WW2 Friend: Mr Julian Holt of Liverpool, England AWMM
- Relationship status
- Single/WWII AWMM
- Unknown AWMM Single AWMM
Wars and conflicts
- War
- World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
- Campaign
- 1940 AWMM Battle of Britain AWMM
- Armed force / branch
- Air Force AWMM
- Service number
- WWII 39957 AWMM
- WWII NZ39957 AWMM
- Military service
- Royal Air Force, No. 87 Squadron AWMM
- Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers
Military decorations
- Medals and Awards
Training and Enlistment
- Military training
- Disciplinary course at the RAF Depot, Uxbridge as an Acting Pilot Officer, 1937. AWMM
- Posted to No 10 Flying Training School at Dumfries, Scotland and obtained his wings in December 1937. AWMM
- Advanced training in the 'senior' term equipped him for Fighter Command and flying single-seater Hawker Fury, 1938. AWMM
- Pilot of the Hawker Hurricane at time of death. AWMM
- Cadet RNR, HMS Conway May 1931 to Aug 1933Public - alfie - Researcher - 5 October 2015 - HMS Conway Cadet Registers, Merseyside maritime Museum, Liverpool, UK
- Branch Trade Proficiency
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- Enlistment
- Inter War 1937 AWMM
Age 22 AWMM
Merchant Seaman/Military AWMM - Age on enlistment
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- Occupation before enlistment
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Embarkations
- Embarkation details
- WW2 Pilot Officer AWMM Royal Air Force AWMM
Prisoner of war
- Capture details
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- Days interned
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- Liberation date
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- POW liberation details
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- Liberation Repatriation
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- POW serial number
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Medical history
- Medical notes
- Killed in Action, Cause of Death AWMM
Killed on air operations believed drowned AWMM
Last known rank
- Last rank
- Flying Officer/Military AWMM
Royal Air Force, No. 151 Squadron AWMM - Last rank
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Biographical information
- Allen was the son of James Leslie Allen, a sheep farmer, and his wife, Katherine Paretio Allen. Katherine was born in Raukorkore, Bay of Plenty.
Orphaned at an early age Allen's paternal aunt, Mrs Frances (Fanny) Edwards became his guardian in 1918. His mother died first and his father was a victim of the influenza epidemic.
Educated at Huntly School, Marton and in October 1926 he moved to Napier Boys' High School as a boarder
His career at sea began with his training on the HMS 'Conway'. In August 1933 he joined the Blue Funnel Line. He successfully took the examination for 2nd Mate's ticket in 1936 after which he left to join the Royal Air Force.
Allen's training at Hatfield and Dumfries was followed by a posting to the School of Naval Co-operation where he was on flying duties until February 1939 when he joined 151 Squadron at North Weald.
After the outbreak of war he was engaged on routine patrol duties. In May to June 1940 he was posted to France to 87 Squadron. On returning to North Weald he was engaged in patrols over the Thames Estuary and on convoy protection duties.
Lost his life in the Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain began on 10 July 1940. Hitler had triumphed in Europe and Britain braced itself to withstand the German attack.During the summer and autumn of 1940 Fighter Command engaged in a series of bitter air battles in defence of the British Isles.Continuous reconnaissance patrols were flown over the North Sea and the Channel ports by the coastal aircraft and as the invasion flotillas were seen assembling in the harbours and canals they were heavily attacked by the bombers.Altogether in the fighter battles, the bombing raids and the various patrols flown between 10 July and 31 October 1940 by the Royal Air Force 1495 aircrew were killed.Among those killed were forty-seven New Zealanders, including 15 fighter pilots, 24 bomber and eight coastal aircrew.These details of the Battle of Britain are taken from H.L. Thompson, New Zealanders with the Royal Air Force, Vol. 1, pp 70-1. The Battle of Britain: 10 July- 31 October 1940
Trained H. M. S. "Conway", joined Royal Air Force May 1937. Friends Address c/o Alfred Holt & co, India buildings, Liverpool 2, England (Source: RNZAF Biographies (R17845607)) AWMM - Allen, John Henry Leslie Flying Officer NZ 151 Squadron : MIA (Missing In Action) 12 July 1940 Hurricane P3275 hit by return fire from a Dornier Do 17 while protecting Allied convoy off Orfordness. Ditched in the sea.Public - Jenifer - Researcher - 1 September 2020 - Reference : "List of RAF air crew in Battle of Britain" (Internet source)
- Allen was the son of James Leslie Allen, a sheep farmer, and his wife, Katherine Paretio Allen. Katherine was born in Raukorkore, Bay of Plenty.
About death
- Death
- 12 Jul 1940 AWMM
Age 25 AWMM - Date of death
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- Age at death
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- Place of death
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- Cause of death
- Killed in Action AWMM
- Death notes
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- Cemetery
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- Cemetery name
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- Grave reference
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- Obituary
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- Memorial name
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- Memorial reference
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Memorial
- Memorial name
- Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, United Kingdom AWMM
- Auckland War Memorial Museum, World War 2 Hall of Memories AWMM
Related objects
Sources
- External links
- Battle of Britain, a website.
http://web.archive.org/web/20060403113135/http://www.raf.mod.uk/bob1940/bobhome.html
Further Reference - Battle of Britain Historical Society website.
http://www.battleofbritain1940.net/
Further Reference - 'Roll of honour', (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 10-Apr-2015
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/battle-of-britain/roll-of-honour
Further Reference - Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1082699
Further Reference - RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ab - B. Archives New Zealand (R17845607).
https://collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search/#/entity/aims-archive/R17845607
Sources Used - See a list of New Zealanders awarded the Battle of Britain Clasp here (PDF). Compiled with the assistance of Errol Martyn and linked from the NZHistory page produced by Manatū Taonga, Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
https://nzhistory.govt.nz/sites/default/files/documents/nz-battle-of-britain-list.pdf
Further Reference - Battle of Britain: Allied Pilots, Aircrew Remembered
https://aircrewremembered.com/BattleOfBritainDatabase/battlebritain-alpha-list.html
Further Reference
- Battle of Britain, a website.
- References
- Wynn, K. (1989). Men of the Battle of Britain. Norwich, England: Gliddon Books.
- Wynn, K. (1981). A clasp for "The Few". Auckland. N.Z.: Author.
Wynn, K. (1981). p.1-3 includes portrait - Martyn, E. (1998-2008). For Your Tomorrow (Vols. 1-3). Christchurch, N.Z.: Volplane Press.
- Finn Scrapbook , No. 100, p.33 (AWMM Library)
- Ministry for Culture and Heritage. (2012). New Zealanders serving with RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain, 10 July – 31 October 1940. [A list compiled by Ministry for Culture and Heritage with Errol Martyn].
- RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] - Historical Items - Battle of Britain Roll of Honour, July - October 1940. Archives New Zealand, Wellington, ADQA 17263 AIR118/109/77e (R17845784)
- RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939 - 1945 (Bound Volumes) - Ab - B. Archives New Zealand (R17845607) - Former archives reference: AIR118
- Please note that the 11 volumes of the "RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Biographies of Deceased Personnel 1939-1945" held at Archives NZ (formerly known as AIR118) should be used in conjunction with Errol Martyn's "For Your Tomorrow". FYT reflects detailed examination of all of the AIR118 bios which contain many inaccuracies and omissions.
- List of RNZAF [Royal New Zealand Air Force] Personnel - List of Deceased New Zealanders (Formerly) serving with RAF [Royal Air Force]. Archives New Zealand, Wellington (R17845760).
- Auckland Museum. Roll of Honour, Auckland Province, 1939 - 1945. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS 93/139.
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