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
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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
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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
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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.
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