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Cenotaph record

Robert Candlish Allen

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Close up portrait of Robert Candlish Allen s/n 12/3538. No Known Copyright.

Close up portrait of Robert Candlish Allen s/n 12/3538. No Known Copyright.

Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    Robert Candlish AWMM
  • Surname
    Allen AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    Bobby AWMM
  • Service number
    WWI 12/3538 AWMM
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi / Hapū / Waka / Rohe
  • Religion
    Church of England, Christian AWMM

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
    3 February 1881 AWMM AWMM
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
    • WW1 Pre 1 January 1916 AWMM Annandale, Morrinsville, New Zealand AWMM
    • WW1 Unknown AWMM Annandale, Morrinsville, New Zealand AWMM
  • Post war occupation
    Regular soldier/Civilian AWMM
  • Next of kin on embarkation
    • WW1 Mrs Ida Tyrell Allen (wife), Annandale, Morrinsville, New Zealand AWMM
    • WW1 Mrs Ida Tyrell Allen (wife), Annandale, Morrinsville, New Zealand AWMM
  • Relationship status
    Pre 8 January 1916 AWMM Married AWMM
    Married, 3 children AWMM

Service

Wars and conflicts

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Military decorations

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  • Medals and Awards
    • Companion of the Distinguished Service Order and bar (DSO*) AWMM
      DSO: London Gazette, 16 August 1917. Citation: "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. At a very critical moment and at great personal risk, he rallied a number of men of another unit who were withdrawing under hostile barrage and prevented their further retirement. Although severely wounded he continued giving instructions for the continuation of the fight. He has at all times shown a very fine example of coolness and gallantry in action." DSO Bar: London Gazette, 2 April 1919. Citation: "At Le Quesnoy, on 4th November, 1918, he displayed great courage and skill in handling his battalion, and the success of his attack greatly assisted the storming of the town. After being wounded he continued to carry out his duties until all objectives were taken. He has previously done good work." AWMM
    • British War Medal (1914-1920) AWMM
    • Victory Medal with oak leaf AWMM
    • New Zealand Long and Efficient Service Medal AWMM
    • Mentioned in Despatches (MiD) Three Times AWMM
      M.I.D. Major, 1st Batt., Auckland Regiment London Gazette 4 January 1917, p261, Rec No 492 For gallantry and devotion to duty. During the whole time he has been with the Battalion he has carried out his duties with conspicuous ability. On the night 3/4th July near Armentieres he led supporting troops through a heavy barrage. M.I.D. Lieut-Colonel, Auckland Regiment London Gazette 28 December 1917, p13575 Mentioned in Field Marshall D. Haig’s despatch of 7 November 1917 for distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty during the period February 26th to midnight September 20-21st, 1917. M.I.D. Lieut-Colonel, 1st Batt., Auckland Regiment, attached 1st Batt., New Zealand Rifle Brigade London Gazette 11 July 1919, p8836 For distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty during the period 16th September 1918, to 15th March 1919. AWMM

Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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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
    • Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWI AWMM
      Wounded June1917 AWMM
    • Hospital Diseases , Wounds, WWI AWMM
      Wounded twice November 1918 AWMM
    • Died from Natural Causes, Cause of Death AWMM

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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  • Married twice, husband of Ida Tyrell nee Thompson and later of Alice Matilda Allen (nee Manchester).

    Brothers Robert Candlish Allen (12/3538) and Stephen Shepherd Allen (12/2600) served in WW1

    His son John Manchester Allen (2562) was killed in WW2.

    Commanding Officer (CO) of Hauraki Regiment, 1919-1924.

    Honorary Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to Governor-General of NZ, 1920.

    _____________________________

    Robert Candlish Allen - 1881-1942

    Two English brothers enlisted in the Auckland Infantry Battalion and served NZ in WW1. Born in Staffordshire, Robert came to New Zealand as a small boy and lived with his family on a block of land near Piako. Later in his life Robert was a farmer at “Annandale” near Morrinsville. His brother Stephen was transferred from the British Army to the NZ Forces in 1915.

    Robert was a Major and served in Egypt, France and Belgium. He was awarded a DSO + bar for his work at the battle of Messines. He was mentioned in dispatches 3 times. After being wounded twice in November 1918 he returned to NZ. The 2 brothers were greeted with a rousing reception by the men of the 2nd Auckland Battalion. They were carried off the wharf shoulder high. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and served as the CO for the Hauraki Regiment.

    In 1920 he served as an Honorary ADC to the Governor General. At the end of that year, he was appointed a provisional Director of The NZ Co-operative Woollen Mills Limited being an executive of Auckland Province of the NZ Farmer’s Union.

    In 1911 he married Miss Ida Thompson who died in 1929. For some time he lived in Paihia, Bay of Islands and then shifted back to England where he made his home at Billington Manor, Newport, Isle of Wight.
    He died in England aged 61.

    Above biography was transcribed, researched and written by Margaret Nash of Panmure Branch of NZSG
    _____________________________ AWMM
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Death

About death

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  • Death
    28 January 1942 AWMM
    Age 61 AWMM
    AWMM
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
    Died from Natural Causes AWMM
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

Roll of Honour

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  • The photo is of my paternal grandfather I am sure. My grandmother was Ida Tyrrell Thompson. My eldest brother, father and grandfather all shared the same name. I have oral history so thank you Margaret Nash for this piece of written history. I have very very little on Ida Tyrrell and any information about her and further information about my grandfather would be appreciated. By the way, there is a strong resemblance between Robert Candlish Allen (Senior) and my middle son.
    JaneMary Castelfranc-Allen
    Public - Jane-Mary - Direct descendant - 7 May 2022
    Report 
  • (I think) this is my great-Grandfather...
    Public - John - Direct descendant - 5 January 2016
    Report 

Sources

Sources

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  • External links
    Military personnel file
    https://collections.archives.govt.nz/en-NZ/web/arena/search#/entity/aims-archive/R22269083
    Further Reference
  • References
    • McDonald, W. (2013). Honours and Awards to the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Great War, 1914-1918. (3rd ed.). Hamilton, N.Z.: Richard Stowers. AWMM
    • Polaschek, A. (1983). The Complete New Zealand Distinguished Conduct Medal. Christchurch, N.Z.: Medals Research. AWMM
    • New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1917). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force Volume II. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      21: 13 AWMM
    • New Zealand Army Expeditionary Force. (1919). Nominal Rolls of New Zealand Expeditionary Force Volume IV. Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
      86: 3 AWMM
    • McFarland, Robert, Rober Duffus McFarland - Papers, 1914-1935, Auckland War Memorial Museum, MS-2015-22 AWMM
    • Beattie, P.J. & Pomeroy, M. (2013-2020). Onward : portraits of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (vols 1-5). Auckland, New Zealand: Fair Dinkum Publications AWMM
      Vol. 5: Includes portrait AWMM
    • Pugsley, C. (2018). Le Quesnoy, 1918 : New Zealand's Last Battle. Auckland, New Zealand : Oratia. AWMM
    • The Le Quesnoy Campaign research was undertaken by the New Zealand Society of Genealogists as part of the development of New Zealand Liberation Museum - Te Arawhata (Le Quesnoy France). This research project was led by CJ Barbour (NZSG), BI Silvester, HH Farrant (NZMHS) with the support of NZSG volunteers (2022). The individuals included in this research data set were verified as serving in Le Quesnoy. AWMM
    • Quinn's Post. New Zealand troopship magazine. As transport no. 37 the "Maunganui" carried the 9th Reinforcements, departing New Zealand 8 January 1916 and arriving Suez 8 February 1916. O.C. Troops was Capt. W.T. Joll and Ship's Master Capt. L. Worrall. AWMM

Contributors

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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
07 May 2022Jane-MaryNapierDirect descendant
05 January 2016JohnWellington, New ZealandDirect descendant
24 April 2015Richard JohnFounex, SwitzerlandOther Relative

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