Charles Edward Allen

Hi
Looking to see if anyone could help to find some information on Charles Edward Allen. I have no date of birth for him. I have no address for where he was born or living before he was in WW1. I have his medal card giving these numbers, 128378 and 14882. Name was given as Allan. He was in the Royal Engineers in the Dorset Regt. We believe he may have lived in London. After the war, he moved to Victoria Barrack in Belfast. Then in 1921, he married in Londonderry, giving him as full age and his father Thomas Allen, a motor mechanic. He was based in Ebrington Barracks after marriage. He was a despatch rider.
He remained in the army and was in the Londonderry Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regt Royal Artillery 1939-1945.
We cannot find any army records for WW1 either.
How can we find a date of birth for him. I have searched the census and was unable to say it was him. We don't have a name for his mother or any of his siblings.
Regards
Aspen

 

Do you know when and where he died?

 

August 1968


Londonderry

 

Hi Aspen

Are we looking for an Allen or an Allefor (if its an Allen then please got to your first post above and use Edit, this allows you to edit the thread title and will avoid further confusion)

Can you also upload the image of the WW1 medal index card for him which you say you have, as I have searched the Ancestry database - All British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 for both is name(s) and numbers given and found nothing

TD

 

I tried to change the name to Allen.

 

Ireland, Civil Registration Marriages Index, 1845-1958
Name: Charles Edward Allen
Date of Registration: Apr-May-Jun, 1921
Registration district: Londonderry, Ireland
Volume: 2
Page Number: 149
FHL Film Number: 101264
Records on Page:
Name
Matilda Ethel Lynch
Violet Mary Buchanan
Charles Edward Allen
Joseph Henry Cordner

Obtain a copy of this and you should have his birth year & where he was born, you will also know his wife's maiden name and from records find out children from the marriage

TD

 

I have the marriage cert and it only gives the father's name. His age is given as full, so we know he was 21 or more.

 

Thanks.

 

OK
he married Matilda Ethel Lynch

Matilda (Ethel) Lynch
1899–1979
BIRTH 31 DEC 1899 • Londonderry, Ireland
DEATH 14 FEB 1979 • Londonderry, Ireland

Ireland, Census, 1911
Name: Matildia Ethel Lynch
Gender: Female
Age: 11
Birth Year: abt 1900
Relation to Head: Daughter
Residence Date: 2 Apr 1911
Townland/Street: Windmill Terrace
District: Londonderry Urban (2)
County: Londonderry
Household Members:
Name Age
John James Lynch 39
Rebecca Lynch 37
Elizabith Lynch 17
Robert John Lynch 15
Matildia Ethel Lynch 11
URL: http://www.census.nationalarch...

TD

Foor reference the family tree that has Matilida married to Charles is - https://www.ancestry.co.uk/family-tree/person/tree/18693357/person/310052337877/facts?ssrc=

 

It gives Victoria Barrack Belfast as his address.

 

Can you upload the image of his WW1 medal card??

TD

 

I see that and nothing for Charles Allen. The only thing he told the family was that he was a cockney and a boy solider.

 

Everything before 1921 is a mystery.

Has the file attached?

 

Yes, it was Allan on that card, but he used the name Allen on his marriage cert and unwards. We don't know it it was a mistake or was changed later.

 

OK I see the card is for a Charles Allan - different to the Charles Allen we are searching for

Noting the family tree though I note Matilda was born in late 1899, I would guess that Charles Allen would be a similar age, which would make him only 14ish at the start of WW1, so perhaps too young for the early part of the war.

The medal card shows that person as a 2nd Cpl, which means he was either a Lance Corporal or a Corporal, so had been in the army for sometime to reach that level and I would guess therefore older that someone born in 1898/99 ish

Plus below is a card for another Charles Allan in the RE
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
Name: Charles Allan
Regiment or Corps: Royal Engineers
Regimental Number: 81175


The WW1 info you have provided is therefore not conclusive that he is your man I'm afraid

TD

 

Another possible

British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
Name: C E Allan
[Charles Allan]
Regiment or Corps: Royal Horse Artillery
Regimental Number: 42062


TD

 

There is nothing straight forward with this man. He was a despatch rider and they automatically became a corporal. He did say that he was a boy solider. I do think he was born before 1899. I have thought possibly around 1895 or thereabouts.