ALLAN Peter Sim

PETER SIM ALLAN Peter Sim Allan was born 7th October, 1885 in Queensland to parents Archibald Allan & Charlotte Douglas Sim. Obviously his middle name was his mother’s maiden name. In 1908 aged 23 he was living near Nambour as a farmer and his parents Archibald, a dairyman, and Charlotte are also found in Ancestry.com’s Australian, Electoral Rolls living in Nambour. On 6th September, 1916 Peter, a farmer, enlisted at the age of 30 years 11 months. He was 5’ 10” tall, 145 lbs with a medium complexion, brown hair, brown eyes, his chest measurement was 33-37 inches, dentally fit and his heart and LUNGS are HEALTHY as examined by the Medical Officer at Enogerra in Brisbane. His religion was Presbyterian. Peter Sim Allan, Service Number 2889, from 8th to 13 September, 1916 was at 11th Depot Battalion as a Private. In the summer heat on 27th October 1916 he is with the 49th Battalion on the ship “Marathon” leaving Brisbane for overseas service and disembarking at Plymouth, England on 9th January, 1917. In the New Zealand Papers Past website, during February 1917, a Nurse, Isabella Munro, at the N.Z. Hospital at Codford reports, “The weather has been so cold and wet that there is much sickness amongst the boys. Last week we had a fall of snow, pretty heavy, the country looked so pretty, but afterwards the mud everywhere made walking very unpleasant.” From the 13th Training Battalion at Codford Peter is sent to 2nd London General Hospital with Acute Bronchitis from 5th to 23rd February, 1917. After testing no evidence of Tuberculosis was found. At No. 3 Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford Peter was admitted from 23rd March to 9th April 1917 with Chronic Bronchitis. Discharged from Dartford Peter is sent to No. 2 Austin Command Depot, Weymouth. On 19th April, 1917 the Medical Officer examining Peter did NOT recommend for him as permanently unfit. His chest was clear and the Medical Officer wrote that the patient “feels well at present”. The “Opinion of the Medical Board Form” recommended when answering Question 20 to be careful not to discriminate between disease resulting from military conditions and disease to which the soldier would have been equally liable in civil life. This was because the RATES OF PENSION vary directly according to whether the disability is attributed to (i) active service (ii) climate, or (iii) ordinary military service. The board found that it was “FOUND APPLICABLE” to Question 20 as to whether the disability was the result of these three causes. To the question “if due to one of these causes, to what specific conditions do the Board attribute it?” Their answer was – PRIOR TO ENLISTMENT. If the disability is not permanent it was found that it would be a probable minimum duration of 6 months and the extent of his capacity for earning a full livelihood in the general labour market lessened at present was by 1/4. It was found that he was “Temporarily unfit for General Duties for more than 6 months” and “Unfit for Home Service.” This Report was approved on 20th April 1917 by the Administrative Medical Officer at AIF Headquarters. After these health issues with Chronic Bronchitis and Debility Peter left England on 31st May 1917 on the ship H.T. “Runic” sailing from Devonport near Plymouth, England for Australia. In a report to the Pensions Office on 27 July 1917 Peter stated that he had not had any chest trouble former to enlistment and had never missed a day’s work for five years. On 29th July 1917 Peter is still complaining about a night cough and looked weak as reported by a Medical Officer. He was Discharged “MEDICALLY UNFIT” and on a PENSION on 10th August 1917 less than a year from enlisting. On 27 December 1920 Peter Sim Allan married Laura Coralie Allan. A letter dated 11th December, 1923 from Captain Officer i/c Base Records to Headquarters, 1st District Base, Victoria Barracks, Brisbane stated that ex-No. 2859 Private P. S. Allan of the 49th Battalion did not serve on the establishment of a unit in a theatre of war prior to 11th November 1918 so he is not eligible for the award of the Victory Medal. Peter did receive the 1914/15 Star and the British War Medal No. 23445 for his Enlistment. In 1958 Peter is living with his wife at 56 Northcote Street, East Brisbane. Peter Sim Allan Passed away on 31 October 1958 aged 73 years and his resting place is at Mt Thompson Memorial Gardens.

Nambour (Maroochy Shire) Roll of Honor Scroll, Private Collection, Nambour (this scroll was available for sale to the public after the war)

Maroochy Shire Honor Roll, Shire Chambers, Bury Street, Nambour

National Archives of Australia - WWI Records - Allan, Peter Sim