| Regimental number | 401 |
| Place of birth | South Melbourne, Victoria |
| School | Errol Street State School, Victoria |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Horsebreaker |
| Address | 58 Capel Street, North Melbourne, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 23 |
| Height | 5' 9.5" |
| Weight | 140 lbs |
| Next of kin | Wife, Mrs A M Allen, North Melbourne, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Place of enlistment | Melbourne, Victoria |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 6th Battalion, D Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/23/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A20 Hororata on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 58th Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Fleurbaix, France |
| Age at death | 24 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 14), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 165 |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front Appointed Driver, Mena, 19 March 1915. Embarked Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, 5 April 1915. Marched in to Mex from Gallipoli, 17 May 1915. Transferred from Mex to Maadi, 3 November 1915. Taken on strength of 6th Bn, Serapeum, 7 January 1916. Found guilty, date unknown, of being absent without leave from 3 January 1916, until 5 January 1916: awarded 7 days' Field Punishment No 2 and forfeited 2 days' pay (corrected to 3 days' pay). Transferred to 58th Bn, 17 February 1916; taken on strength of 58th Bn as a Private, Serapeum, 17 February 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916. Found guilty, 21 June 1916, of disobeying an order in that he was smoking on a troop deck: award, forfeited 4 days' pay. Disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916. Killed in action, 19 July 1916. Letter on file by an unnamed Lieutenant in 58th Bn stated, 'He [Allen] was buried by this Unit at Rue Petillon Military Cemetery (p.26). The Commanding Officer of Australian Graves Services did however note on 9 December 1921, that 'no justification for that report can now be found' (p.25). Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, ALLEN Desmond Claude |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
