Page 1 of 2 Exchange is a member of The Imperial War Museum
Transcription
Page 1 of 2 Exchange is a member of The Imperial War Museum
This is a transcript of an interview conducted by Age Exchange as part of the Children of the Great War project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Age Exchange is a member of The Imperial War Museum First World War Centenary Partnership. www.childrenofthegreatwar.org.uk www.age-exchange.org.uk If you wish to contact Age Exchange about this contribution, or access other archive material from its the Children of The Great War project, please email [email protected] Title Interview with Pamela Jean Allen About: Joseph Allen’s War Diary The story was shared at: New Wimbledon Theatre, London On: 04/02/2014 By: Pamela Jean Allen AE Reference: NW008 • • • • Who does this diary belong to? My father. He was from Nottingham, where I was born. He was 48 when I was born and he didn’t talk about the War. The only information I had was from my mother. Years after he died she gave me his diary. His name was Joseph Allen. His address was Blackstone Street. In those days Nottingham was a manufacturing city. He was a railway man for 40 years. He was always working, so was my mother. This is his diary dated 1917 in which he refers to joining the War in 1915 and what happened from 1915 and 1916. My sister had photos of my dad because she was the favourite. He was a gunner – Gunner J Allen 106808 83rd battery of the 11th Brigade 3rd La Hall [sic] Division - Indian Expeditionary Force in France so he spent two years in France. That’s a drawing of a gun and that’s his number. I’ve got his rifle number and a bayonet number. He moved around. He was in others ones too. He was in Ypres. I think he may have rode horses. There is a drawing of a horse. Can you read some out? Arrived in France 15 September 1915. It also says here how to assemble a gun. So here they would have been fighting with the Belgian Army. This is the British Expeditionary Force. He’s dealing with horses. He had statues of horses at home. I’m guessing this is a blacksmith he’s drawn. He’s also got how to do things with guns – to test the magneto, remove this, do that, to test engines get a lead pencil, sharpen at both ends. Bearing in mind he was only 16 in 1915. This looks like a list of girlfriends on the inside cover! This date here 12 December 1917 he was in Ypres. It’s got in here about a Major dying – 17th Notts & Derby. This says 11th January 1917. 5th December in hospital in Brighton. When I questioned him he said no but he had what looked like a wound on his back. From his diary it said he’d been wounded in the neck. There are days where there is nothing but then he’s out other bits in. 11th April 1917 he’s on board a ship and then into hospital in Blighty (England) – 12th April 1917 so he’s been transported on the Brighton back home. Major Vaughan of the 83rd battery killed at Ypres Sanctuary Wood 1916 but he’s recorded it in 1917. I don’t think he had the diary in 1916. Left Gravesend Hospital and proceeded to Fortes for uniform. Home on leave at 4.10am. Returned from sick leave to join unit. I was wounded in the neck at Ypres previous year 1916. He’s keeping the diary in 1917 but he’s remembering from 1916. 2nd June 1917 but he’s put in the entry of 2nd June 1916. This says went from Romney on leave, returned to unit from overseas leave. Drafted from Romney to Page 1 of 2 • • • • • • • • Woolwich. Now into the month of June – boarded ARC Angel (could be a troop ship) at Southampton, arrived at France at Hors Fleurs. Anti-gas instructions with helmet and box respirator. Went through gunnery course for proficiency. Went through gas chamber rehearsal for phosphene gas. He kept his gas mask and me and my brother used to play with it as kids. What was your dad like? He was very strict. He favoured my sister. I would always make his tea and she would get to sit on his lap. He had two lots of children. He had a first wife and four children, second wife with four children and my mum with two children. It was pretty hard for my brother and I. How old were you when he died? I was 15. It was 1963. He was 64. He had a heart attack. Did you ever feel you had a connection with him? A little bit. I used to look after him. In the early days he would carve wood. My aunty showed me he’d carved her cabinets. He was a craftsman. He loved classical music. We used to listen to it every Sunday morning. Shall we see if there is anything else in the diary? We got as far as June. Transferred into RGA (Royal Gunners Artillery) in Liage Battery. This is like a little poem – little beams of moonshine, little hugs and kisses, change her name from Miss to Mrs. Joined 299 Liage battery RGA at Vlanertinghe. He’s either talking about being in love or which field he’s heading for! That’s Ypres he’s in most of the time. 11 motor lorries blew us by shell fire also ammunition dump. 26th July outside Ypres 1917. Advanced 200 yards. There are all these drawings in the back too. He survived all this. This says entertained at Popringay, Ypres, so there must have been a concert. 14th September which is the next day it’s got ‘Enemy followed half a mile’ – arrived at La Havre. He’s transported to La Havre for leave. Boarded the ship on 21st. He’s gone back two years ago. He’s left but he’s remembered his journey to Belgium. Boarded transport ship King Edward two years ago arrived in France two years ago joined 83rd battery. Copyright © Age Exchange Theatre Trust Ltd. 2014 (a company limited by guarantee) Registered in England No. 1929724. Registered Office: 11 Blackheath Village, London SE3 9LA Registered as Charity No: 326899 Page 2 of 2