We remember: William ‘Ernest’ Allen

Ernie Allen, front, in his schooldays at Pakenham.

A century on from the end of World War I we acknowledge their service …
Lest we forget.

Private William Ernest Francis Allen
Born: 1888 Pakenham. Killed in action: 26 March 1917 – Morchies, near Bapaume France
Enlisted: 7 June 1916 aged 28
Served: Western Front

Known as “Ernie”, William Ernest Allen was born the eldest son of local butcher Francis and Jessie Allen. Later, Ernie became a butcher like his father, grew into a well-built man and was nicknamed “Snowy” on account of his light hair.

He was 28 years old, married with two sons and living at Malvern East when he enlisted on 7 June 1916.

Tragically, he was killed in action during the Germans’ tactical retreat on the Somme in March 1917.

An eyewitness account stated:

“I saw Allen killed by a ‘whizz-bang’ [shell]… between Vaux and the Sunken Rd. He died instantly”.

Apparently, shrapnel from the shell went through his head. Another soldier was killed with him. Ernie’s family placed in-memoriam notices in the Argus newspaper on the second anniversary of his death.

His mother’s spoke of “duty nobly done”, while his widow described Ernie as “my hero”.

This is an extract from Patrick Ferry’s book A Century After The Guns Fell Silent – Remembering the Pakenham District’s WWI Diggers 1914-18.
For more details on this and other profiles in the book, head to the website www.pakenhamww1.com