ALLEN, Henry Edward

Henry Allen lived at 73 St. James's Terrace, Dudley, and was a recently recruited regular soldier in the Worcesters serving in the 3rd Battalion. They were in the British Expeditionary Force stationed at Aldershot and were immediately mobilized after the declaration of war on the 4th August. They landed in France on the 12th and at Mons in Belgium met the invading forces. They were forced back in the Retreat from Mons and in ten days marched 150 exhausting miles to the Marne. In the great Anglo-French victory their effort was massive and German victory prevented. They soon marched forward to the Aisne and crossed the river at Vailly. German counter-attacks stopped further advance and the Worcesters halted in the wooded valleys above the Aisne. Many casualties had been taken but the 19th September was a quiet day with one man killed. This was Private Henry Allen. He is commemorated on the La-Fert?-sous-Jouarre, Dudley and St. James church, Dudley, Memorials.