Current Information:

Age-21

31, Epple Road, Fulham

Bethune Town Cemetery, France

The 23rd London battalion arrived in France in March, 1915 and in May became part of 142 Brigade, 47th Division. From 11th-19th April they underwent trench warfare instruction from the Guards Brigade of 1st Division at Les Glaugmes, to the west of Le Touret and then on 25th April, 23rd London took over trenches at Rue du Bois near Fleurbaix. John Allen died from wounds on 28th April but the battalion diary provides no further information concerning his death. The attrition rate among British soldiers on the Western Front was on average 300 each day and 60% of these were as a result of shellfire. When not involved in an actual battle it was either shell fire or a sniper’s bullet that caused most deaths and injuries.