Feb 18, 1899

Born in Edgworth, Lancashire, England

Jul 16, 1908

Embarked the SS Canada in Liverpool, England

Jul 24, 1908

Disembarked in Montreal, Quebec and proceeded to Hamilton, Ontario as part of a group of Home Children destined for the National Children’s Home & Orphanage.  (below)

He was subsequently sent to a farm in Millgrove, Ontario to be employed as a labourer for a foster family

Nov 5, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion in Kingston, Ontario 

Ø      Number 59007 (temporary number 610)

Ø      Next of kin given as S. Allen, father, Edgworth, England

Ø      Previous occupation given as Fireman

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Wesleyan

Ø      Assigned to “E” Company

o       This was later reorganized into “C” Company 

On attestation, he lied about his age, stating that he was born in 1895.  The battalion trained in the Kingston area with headquarters in the Kingston Armouries

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama in Montreal, Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked in Devonport, England and the battalion proceeded to the West Sandling Camp, near Hythe, Kent to continue training

Jul 21, 1915

Admitted to the Detention Hospital Shorncliffe

Jul 25, 1915

Transferred to the Military Hospital, Shorncliffe and the diagnosis reads Synovitis, an inflammation of the knee joint

Aug 1, 1915

Transferred to the Central VAD (Volunteer Aid Detachment) Hospital, Sandgate

Aug 27, 1915

Discharged to duty from hospital

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St. Seiriol in Folkstone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked in Boulogne, France and the battalion proceeded to St. Omer

Mar 12, 1916

Admitted to the No. 6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) Rest Station with a diagnosis of Pleurisy

Mar 19, 1916

Transferred to the Divisional Rest Station at Mont des Cats

Mar 26, 1916

Discharged to duty and rejoined the battalion

Apr 14, 1916

Admitted to the No. 5 Stationary Hospital, Wimereux with a diagnosis that reads Shell Shock

Apr 16, 1916

Transferred to the No. 5 Convalescent Depot, Wimereux

Apr 24, 1916

Discharged from the Convalescent Depot to duty at the Base Depot

May 8, 1916

Rejoined the 21^st Battalion in the “B” Camp near La Clytte, Belgium

Aug 28, 1916

Attached to the 4^th Field Company, Canadian Engineers to be part of a Carrying Party

Sep 12, 1916

Ceased to be attached and rejoined the battalion

Oct 19, 1916

Reattached to the 4^th Field Company, Canadian Engineers for duty

Nov 12, 1916

Ceased to be attached and rejoined the battalion

Dec 5, 1916

Awarded 28 days Field Punishment #2 for being absent from quarters from 6 pm until 9 pm and for being drunk on returning.

Jan 11, 1917

Granted 10 days leave

Apr 10, 1917

Admitted to the No. 5 British Red Cross Hospital, Wimereux with a diagnosis that reads PUO (Pyrexia of Unknown Origin) which is a fever without a known cause

Apr 12, 1917

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St. Denis

Admitted to the Shorncliffe Military Hospital on arrival in England

Posted to the EORD (Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot) while in hospital

Jun 6, 1917

Transferred to the Monks Horton Convalescent Hospital

Jun 14, 1917

Discharged from hospital and posted to the 6^th Reserve Battalion, Seaford

Apr 17, 1918

Admitted to the No. 14 Canadian General Hospital diagnosed with a Papilloma Prepace (a wart).  Surgery was performed 2 days later to remove it.

May 9, 1918

Discharged to duty from hospital

Oct 10, 1918

Posted to the 21^st Battalion

Oct 11, 1918

Arrived at the CIBD (Canadian Infantry Base Depot) in Etaples, France and TOS (Taken On Strength) the 21^st Battalion

Dec 13, 1918

The 21^st Battalion crossed the Rhine River and entered Germany as part of the occupying force after the war had ended

Apr 3, 1919

Embarked the Western Australia in Havre, France

The battalion disembarked in England and proceeded to Witley, where he was TOS “P” Wing for processing pending return to Canada

May 13, 1919

Embarked the SS Caronia in Liverpool with the 21^st Battalion

May 19, 1919

Admitted to the ship’s infirmary diagnosed with a Furuncle in the Ear (a boil or abscess in his ear)

May 22, 1919

Disembarked in Halifax, Nova Scotia and admitted to the Camp Hill Military Hospital, Halifax.

Meanwhile the battalion proceeded by train to Kingston, Ontario

Jun 12, 1919

Transferred to the #2 District Depot Toronto, Ontario and posted to the Hospital Section and the diagnosis was changed to read Eczema and Infected Middle Ear

Jun 24, 1919

Discharged to duty from hospital

Jul 9, 1919

Discharged from the CEF.  There are no discharge documents in his file, and this date was given on his application for the War Service Gratuity.  His address was given then as Millgrove, Ontario.

The Medals card is also missing from the file, but he earned the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medals.

Aug 30, 1927

Married to Stella Chase in Hamilton, Ontario.  It is interesting to note that Stella was a ward of the Hamilton Children’s Aid Society and was only 15 years of age.

Feb 14, 1953

Harry Allen passed away in Hamilton, Ontario and is buried in the Woodland Cemetery there.