ALLEN Samuel

Samuel was born on 21 June 1892 at Bundaberg, Queensland to Joseph Francis and Elizabeth Eliza Allen (nee Beard). Both parents had died before Samuel enlisted in the Army, Joseph in 1903 and Elizabeth in 1914. At the age of 23 years he stood 5ft 5 inches tall and weighed 125 Lbs a single man who gave his occupation as labourer. He enlisted in Brisbane on 12 January 1915 and went into camp at Enoggera to undergo initial training and was allocated as Private with 9th battalion. He embarked aboard 'Star of England' on 8 April 1915 which took him to the war at Anzac Peninsular. During his time he was evacuated to firstly to Lemnos suffering from Dysentry and then later via Alexandria to the County of London Military Hospital at Epsom. When he was fit enough to return to the war he was sent to Tel-el-Kebir where the 9th battalion was undergoing changes since retreating from Gallipoli after taking heavy losses.

He was next deployed to France and transferred to 49th battalion, as part of the reconfiguration of troops. His military service was not smooth as he defied the military way of doing things which led to no fewer than four episodes of being absent without leave or disobeying orders with loss of pay and time in detention. During 1917 he was taken before a Field Court Martial and sentenced to 12 months imprisonment to be spent at Rouen Prison (June 1917 - May 1918).

Once he was released after serving his time he rejoined the 49th battalion in France and following another hospital admission he was evacuated to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Kent. By this time the war has ended and he waited for his return to Australia. On 1 July 1919 he embarked aboard 'Frankfurt' on list 309 and sailed for home where he disembarked on 20 August in Melbourne. He was discharged in Brisbane on 6 October 1919. Although he had served overseas his application for medals in 1922 went before a review panel which deemed that because of the soldiers unsatisfactory war record he automatically forfeits his rights to medals.

Samuel died on 13 March 1961 at the age of 68 years

• Anzac Peninsular
• France
• France
• France

Lutwyche Cemetery Anzac section