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Auction: 20001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - conducted behind closed doors
Lot: 853

(x) A Gallipoli Casualty group of three awarded to Private E. Allan, Northumberland Fusiliers, who died of wounds aged 18 years

1914-15 Star (22112 Pte. E. Allan. North'd Fus:); British War and Victory Medals (22112 Pte. E. Allan. North'd. Fus.), good very fine (3)


Edward Allan was born in 1897 at Edlingham, Northumberland, the son of George and Jane Allan of Whittingham Railway Crossing. His father worked as a railway platelayer and his mother attended the crossing gate. A mill worked by occupation, Allan enlisted into the Northumberland Fusiliers at Newcastle upon Tyne, initially being sent to the 15th Battalion before transferring to the 8th Battalion and serving at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, from 22 September 1915.

On 7 October 1915 the Battalion moved into the fire trenches to the south of Karakel and relieved the 11th Battalion, Manchester Regiment. The 8th and 9th of October were spent in the firing line, improving trenches and constructing a new forward line, whilst on the 10th the Battalion was swelled by a draft of 100 men from 11th Divisional Base at Mudros. Between the 11th and 17th of October the War Diary for the 8th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, notes:

'In trenches, hostile sniping bad at first, now got under control, a few shells fired at our trenches, no damage, few casualties'.

Allen is recorded as having died of wounds on 15 October 1915, his name being commemorated upon the Helles Memorial. Sadly, the family would later experience the loss of his elder brother, Private Thomas Dixon Allan of the 1/4th (Hallamshire) Battalion, York & Lancaster Regiment, who was killed in action on the Western Front on 26 April 1918 and is buried at Tyne Cot cemetery; sold with copied War Diary entries, research and MIC.


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Sold for
£230

Starting price
£100