Allen, Joseph William
Lieutenant Joseph William Allen MC - 3rd Australian Tunnelling Company
Joseph William Allen was born in Cossack WA on the 16th April 1888 to William and Mary Allen. However the birth was registered in Fremantle and Joseph was also baptised in Fremantle.
The family appears to have moved to Fremantle in the 1890's and Joseph would have been educated locally, most likely at Fremantle State School or CBC Fremantle.
By 1913 Joseph was working as a surveyor and draftsman at Cockburn Sound.
When the Great War was declared Joseph enlisted on the 17th August 1914 and went into training at Blackboy Hill Camp on the 8th September 1914. He was assigned to the 3rd Field Company Engineers with the regimental number 190, however something must have been happening in his life as Joseph departed from camp and after several weeks absence, he was discharged from the AIF on the 8th October 1914.
Joseph must have sorted his issues out as on the 16th August 1915 he re-enlisted into the AIF. His attributes were recorded as below;
Age – 27 years 7 months
Height – 5 feet 9 & ¾ inches
Weight – 167 lbs
Chest Measurement – 37.40 inches
Complexion – Fair
Eyes – Blue
Hair – Light
Religion - RC
From the 16/08/1915 to 13/11/1915 he served as a Private in No.18 Depot at Blackboy Hill Camp.
From 13/11/1915 to 06/12/1915 he was promoted to Sergeant and put into the 13th Reinforcements to the 16th Battalion.
Joseph then transferred to the Australian Mining Corps which included a stint at the Officers Engineering School in Sydney. Joseph then applied for a Commission to Second Lieutenant in the AIF and was appointed as a Lieutenant to the 6th Tunnelling Company.
The 6th Tunnelling Company was made up of men experienced in all aspects of mining in WA.
On the 8th April 1916 Joseph got a break from the Army training as he got married to Florence Maud Weaver and their house was set up at 10 Quarry Street Fremantle.
Joseph embarked at Fremantle on the troopship A69 ‘Warilda’ on 01/06/1916 and after several weeks on the ocean, disembarked at Plymouth England 18/07/1916 - Timeline of service below;
Reported for duty in France 25/09/1916
26/09/1916 - 6th Tunnelling Company disbanded.
27/09/1916 - Joseph Allen taken on the strength of No.3 Australian Tunnelling Company
16/03/1917 - Admitted to hospital with Asthma & Bronchitis
03/05/1917 – Arrived back at unit
20/01/1918 – Sent to hospital sick. Firstly in France and then at Bulford England
20/04/1918 – Arrived back in France
24/04/1918 – Rejoined Unit
06/11/1918 – Admitted to hospital with Bronchitis
28/11/1918 – Returned to unit from hospital
06/12/1918 – Awarded Military Cross for actions in October 1918 the recommendation of which reads.
Lieutenant Joseph William Allen MC
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He commanded a party engaged on investigation for enemy land mines and traps in the area through which our troops were advancing from Auchy, St. Elie, and Hulloch, on 1st – 16th October 1918. At great risk he personally removed the detonators from over 300 dangerous traps. His work was done so well that no lives were lost through enemy traps in this area, and over 50 tons of dangerous enemy mines and traps were rendered harmless.
Sailed from England to return to Australia 20/12/1918
Discharged from the AIF 28/06/1919
There were two sons, Lloyd born i 1921 and Ross in 1926 and the family continued to reside in the Fremantle area, later moving to Claremont.
Joseph Allen died in 1976