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