John Walter Allen was the second son of Charles Henry Allen and Alice Cleadon Allen (nee; Lewthwaite). In the 1911 UK census he was living at 42 Randolph Road, Gillingham, Kent with his parents, older sister Emily Florence Allen and younger brother Bertie R Allen.  

He was a private in the 11th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers and died on 26th September 1916 during the battle of Thiepval Ridge. The fusiliers had a hard fight in the trenches and dugouts, and lost pace with the barrage and the mopping-up company was used to fill the gap on the Middlesex front, which had drifted to the right.  He is buried in Londsale Cemetery, Authuile, Somme, France.

Tuesday 26th September, 1916 was a fine day and the temperature was 75 F. 

  

lost pace as t  

James Towsey