ALLEN, James Douglas

James Allen came from West Bromwich but was living in Brierley Hill in 1914. He volunteered for the South Staffs Territorials and joined the 1/5th Battalion in the 137th (Staffordshire) Brigade, 46th (North Midland) Division, and went to the Western Front on the 5th March 1915. After some short attachments with other units the Staffords spent a month on the Messines ridge and then went to Hill 60 close to Ypres. As well as being in support, some time was spent in the front line trenches, where there was the occasional casualty. One of these was Private James Allen who was killed in action on the 5th July. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial and on the Brierley Hill, Brierley Hill church and Brockmoor Memorials.