| William Barnsley Allen | |
|---|---|
William Barnsley Allen as portrayed on a Gallaher cigarette card |
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| Born | 8 June 1892 Sheffield |
| Died | 27 August 1933 (aged 41) Bracklesham |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Years of service | 1914 - 1923 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | Royal Army Medical Corps |
| Battles/wars | World War I - First Battle of the Somme |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Distinguished Service Order Military Cross and Bar |
Major William Barnsley Allen VC DSO MC and Bar (8 June 1892 – 27 August 1933) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Allen died of an accidental drug overdose.[1]
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Allen attended Worksop College, a public school in North Nottinghamshire. He joined the army in 1914, just a few days after the United Kingdom declared war on Germany.
He was 24 years old, and a captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps, British Army, attached to 246th (West Riding) Brigade., Royal Field Artillery during the First World War.
On 3 September 1916, near Mesnil, France, when gun detachments were unloading high explosive ammunition, the enemy suddenly began to shell the battery position. The first shell fell on one of the limbers, exploded the ammunition and caused several casualties. Captain Allen at once ran across under heavy shell fire and started attending to the wounded. He himself was hit four times by pieces of shell, but he went coolly on with his work until the last man had been attended to and removed. He then went to tend a wounded officer and only then reported his own injuries. For this action, he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
He later achieved the rank of major.
His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Army Medical Services Museum in Mytchett, Surrey.
William Allen was a member of Sheffield University Officers Training Corps whilst he was studying medicine. Just off the main mess in Somme Barracks, home of Sheffield UOTC, there is an ante-room named the "Allen VC Room" which proudly displays on the wall a framed photograph of William, along with the citation as well as a copy of his VC and several of his other medals.