Allan, Morton McLeod

Lieutenant Morton Mcleod Allan – 12^th Battalion AIF

Morton Mcleod Allan was born in Perth WA in 1895 to the Reverand Tom Allen & Mrs. Emma Allen. Reverand Allen worked as a Minister at Wesley Church and Fremantle Boys School and Morton (or Mort to his mates) also attended this school. After leaving school he became a bank clerk and also took an interest in the military. He had served as a senior cadet and later in the 37^th Battery Australian Field Artillery in Fremantle.

Morton enlisted into the AIF on the 2^nd February 1915 and he was found to be 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighed 157 lbs; 34 inches in chest measurement, dark complexion; blue eyes & dark hair. He was of the Methodist religion. After being passed as fit he was assigned to the 5^th Reinforcements to the 12^th Battalion with the regimental no.1964.

His group embarked from Fremantle on the 26^th April 1915 aboard the transport ship A20 Hororata. After arrival in Egypt in May, Mort spent several months in camp in Egypt, arriving at Anzac Cove on the 27^th November 1915. He was soon appointed Lance Corporal but by the 13^th December had come down sick and was diagnosed with mumps. He was sent to Hospital in Alexandria but quickly recovered and as Gallipoli had been evacuated, he rejoined his battalion in Egypt. On the 28^th January he was appointed Corporal and 5 weeks later he was promoted to Sergeant.

The 12^th Battalion left Egypt in late March 1916 and arrived in Marseilles on the 5^th April 1916. The 12^th Battalion were initially sent up to Armentieres where they garrisoned the line from April through to June. By July they were on their way to the Somme and from the 20^th to 29^th July the 12^th were involved at Pozieres, where Morton fortunately came through unscathed. In early August Morton was sent to No.9 Officer’s Cadet Battalion at Ayrshire in Scotland. Morton trained here till 20^th November 1916 when he was sent on furlough, after which he was attached to a Cadet training battalion at Perham Downs.

On the 18^th December 1916 2^nd Lieutenant Morton McLeod Allan reported back to the 12^th Battalion, who were then stationed in the middle of a muddy Somme battlefield near Flers. On the 7^th February 1917 Morton was promoted to Lieutenant and saw service through the 12^th’s actions in the outpost villages during March & April and 2^nd Bullecourt in May.

In June & July the 12^th were pulled out of the line for rest & training, during which time Morton was given leave to England.

The next major action for the 12^th was to be in the Third Battle of Ypres on the 20^th September 1917. They were to attack the German positions along the Menin Road. Before they were due to advance on the Germans, several men of Mort’s section left the trenches to atatck the Germans, but as the advance had not yet commenced, Mort went out of the trench to bring them back and was killed by German shellfire.

He was buried by a party of engineers and trench mortar men on the left sector of Glencourse Wood. Unfortunately after the war his grave was not recovered and he is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres Belgium.

His parents were sent his effects and his medals.