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Cenotaph record

George Bendall Allen

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Lay a poppy
I think this is before he left NZ. He made sergeant and avoided becoming an officer. He saw too many officers get shot.

GB Allen

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Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    George Bendall AWMM
  • Surname
    Allen AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    Gubby Allen AWMM
  • Service number
    450453 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion
    Church of England, Christian AWMM

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    13 August 1922 AWMM New Plymouth, Taranaki AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    Pre 12 December 1941 AWMM 14 Cecil Road, Epsom, Newmarket, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
    Secondary School Teacher/Civilian AWMM
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    Mrs N.M. Allen (mother), Govett Avenue, Frankleigh Park, New Plymouth, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Pre 21 February 1944 AWMM Single AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
    World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM
  • Campaign
    Italy AWMM
  • Armed force / branch
    Army AWMM
  • Service number
    450453 AWMM
  • Military service
    • Secondary School Cadets AWMM
    • Countess of Ranfurly - 1st Auckland Battalion AWMM
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    • Military Medal (MM) AWMM
      10 May 1945 AWMM
      MM. Awarded for bravery in the field during attack near Uso River, Italy - 24/25 September 1944. 'On the night of 24-25 September 1944, Corporal Allen’s section was among the forward troops engaged in an attack against the enemy near the USO RIVER, Italy. During the attack a considerable amount of enemy machine-gun fire was encountered, but by bold personal action and splendid leadership Corporal Allen succeeded in destroying three machine-gun posts which were holding up the advance. At first light his Company found reorganisation on its objective difficult on account of a strong pocket of enemy resistance consisting of about a platoon of infantry with four machine guns in narrow entrances. Corporal Allen led his section in an attack on this position and although under machine-gun fire at almost point-blank range, rushed one of the entrances and succeeded in disorganising the defences, killing a number of the enemy and taking several prisoners. The small number of casualties sustained by his section was a tribute to Corporal Allen’s bold and enterprising leadership, involving as it did complete disregard for his own personal safety.'. (Source: The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Allen, George Bendall. (Ref. WO 373/11/613). Military Medal. AWMM
    • 1939-1945 Star AWMM
    • Italy Star AWMM
    • War Medal 1939-1945 AWMM
    • New Zealand War Service Medal AWMM
    • Cadet Forces Medal AWMM

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
    Territorial Instructors Course, Trentham 1942 AWMM
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
    WW2 12 December 1941 AWMM
    Age 19 AWMM
    Training College Student/Civilian AWMM
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes
    • Height, Unknown Period AWMM
      5 foot 10 inches AWMM
    • Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWII AWMM
      Wounded on banks of Senio River, admitted to hospital, Bari AWMM

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Husband of Thelma Rae Loft, married 1 January 1949. they had a family of 3 boys and 1 girl. By 2002 they had 12 grandchildren and 4 greatgrandchildren.

    Returned to Auckland University in 1946 and completed BA degree. In 1947 did MA (English).

    Did refresher course and was relieving teacher Mt Albert Grammar 1948-52. Foundation member Henderson High School staff 1953. HOD Social Studies, English, Deputy Principal, Principal 1965 -79.

    Awarded Woolf Fisher Scholarship 1968.

    QSM - 1998

    Millennium Medal - Waitakere City 2000 AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    21 May 2004 AWMM
    Age 81 AWMM
    AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
    Waikumete Cemetery, Glen Eden, Auckland, New Zealand AWMM Soldiers Ash Burial K Row 11a, Plot 33 AWMM
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

Remember George Bendall Allen by laying a poppy.

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Sources

Sources

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  • External links
    • Auckland Council. West (Waikumete) burial and cremation records search
      http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/parksfacilities/cemeteries/Pages/westcemeterysearch.aspx
      Sources Used
    • Burdon, R. (1959). 24 Battalion. Wellington, Dept. of Internal Affairs, War History Branch.
      http://www.nzetc.org/tm/scholarly/tei-WH2-24Ba.html
      Further Reference
    • 'The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy.' (London Gazette, 10 May 1945, p.2455.). Military Medal.
      http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/37072/supplements/2455
      Further Reference
    • 'On the night of 24-25 September 1944, Corporal Allen’s section was among the forward troops engaged in an attack against the enemy near the USO RIVER, Italy. During the attack a considerable amount of enemy machine-gun fire was encountered, but by bold personal action and splendid leadership Corporal Allen succeeded in destroying three machine-gun posts which were holding up the advance. At first light his Company found reorganisation on its objective difficult on account of a strong pocket of enemy resistance consisting of about a platoon of infantry with four machine guns in narrow entrances. Corporal Allen led his section in an attack on this position and although under machine-gun fire at almost point-blank range, rushed one of the entrances and succeeded in disorganising the defences, killing a number of the enemy and taking several prisoners. The small number of casualties sustained by his section was a tribute to Corporal Allen’s bold and enterprising leadership, involving as it did complete disregard for his own personal safety.'. (Source: The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Allen, George Bendall. (Ref. WO 373/11/613). Military Medal.
      http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7353903
      Further Reference
  • References
    • Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1945). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 13 (Embarkations from 1st January, 1944 to 31st March, 1944). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      WW2 13: WW2 4 AWMM
    • Fortune, G. & Bebich, M. (2008). Citizenship and remembrance : a history of the 24 NZ Infantry Battalion Association. Auckland, N.Z.: Polygraphia. AWMM
    • 24 N.Z. Infantry Battalion Association [newsletter]. Auckland, N.Z.: The Association. AWMM
      24th N.Z. Infantry Battalion Association newsletter. August 2004, Issue 141. AWMM
    • Burdon, R. (1959). 24 Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
    • Information kindly provided by family AWMM

Contributors

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04 April 2022GeoffAuckland NZChild

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