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Auction: 19001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 471

Three: Private R. C. Allen, 1/4th Battalion, Royal Sussex Regiment, who was killed in action at the First Battle of Gaza in March 1917

1914-15 Star (4-2221 Pte. R. C. Allen, R. Suss. R.); British War and Victory Medals (2221 Pte. R. C. Allen, R. Suss. R), good very fine (3)

Reginald Charles Allen, who was born in Worthing, Sussex, first saw action in Gallipoli, landing with the 1/4th Royal Sussex Regiment (Territorials) at 'C' Beach, Suvla Bay at midnight on 8 August 1915; the following day, Allen and his comrades supported a costly attack on Scimitar Hill. By early October, the Battalion's strength had been reduced to about 200 officers and men, as a result of which it was temporarily amalgamated with the 2/4th Queen's.

Allen next served in Egypt and Palestine and was killed in action at the First Battle of Gaza on 26 March 1917. Over the two days, the Battalion lost sic officers and 25 men killed; a further seven officers and 153 men were wounded. As part of the 53rd (Welsh) Division, the 4/Sussex left bivouac at Deir el Belah and marched all night to reach the es Sire Ridge at 8.30 a.m.; patrols were then pushed forward before the attack started at 11.50 a.m. Heavy fire from the outset continued throughout the day and one account reported 'at about 2.15 I go into the line. The position gets worse.' It was during this action that Allen was killed.

He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial.


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Sold for
£180