William Allen (VC 1879)
{{short description|Recipient of the Victoria Cross (c.1843–1890)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
|name=William Wilson Allen
|birth_date=c. 1843
|death_date={{Death date and age|1890|03|12|1843|df=y}}
|birth_place=Kyloe, Northumberland, England
|death_place=Monmouth, Monmouthshire, England
|placeofburial=Monmouth Cemetery
|placeofburial_coordinates={{Coord|51|49|10.17|N|2|42|53.29|W|type:landmark_region:GB-MON|display=inline,title}}
|image= William Wilson Allen (c. 1843 – 1890).png
|image_size=
|caption=
|nickname=
|allegiance={{UK}}/British Empire
|branch=23px British Army
|serviceyears=
|rank=Sergeant
|commands=
|unit=24th Regiment of Foot
|battles=Anglo-Zulu War
Rorke's Drift
|awards= Victoria Cross
South Africa Medal{{cite web |url=https://www.fold3.com/record/741184966/allen-uk-the-south-africa-medal-roll-1877 |url-access=subscription |title=The South Africa Medal Roll, 1877 |via=Fold3 |quote=transcriptions of 26,472 campaign veterans, including those of the 24th Foot, from WO 100/46 and other ledgers |access-date=1 October 2024}}
|relations=
|laterwork=
}}
William Wilson Allen ({{circa|1843}} – 12 March 1890) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC) for his actions at the Battle of Rorke's Drift in January 1879, the highest and most prestigious award for valour in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Military career
File:The defense of Rorke's Drift.jpg; Corporal William Allen, VC [right foreground] handing cartridges to Lt Chard]]
Allen had joined the 24th Regiment at Aldershot in 1859. He was about 35 years old, a sergeant who had recently been reduced in rank to corporal for being drunk on duty. He was in the 2nd Battalion, 24th Regiment of Foot (later The South Wales Borderers), British Army during the Zulu War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry in action.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UIosmy8NRwQC&pg=PA89&ci=495%2C350%2C417%2C273 |title=The V.C. and D.S.O. |volume=I |editor1-first=O'Moore |editor1-last=Creagh |editor1-link=O'Moore Creagh |editor2-first=E. M. |editor2-last=Humphris |publisher=The Standard Art Book Company |place=London |page=89 |date=1924 |access-date=2025-03-18 |via=Google Books}}
On 22 and 23 January 1879 at Rorke's Drift, Natal, South Africa, Corporal Allen and another man (Frederick Hitch) kept communication with the hospital open, despite being severely wounded. Their determined conduct enabled the patients to be withdrawn from the hospital, and when incapacitated by their wounds from fighting, they continued, as soon as their wounds were dressed, to serve out ammunition to their comrades during the night.{{London Gazette|issue=24717|page=3178|date=2 May 1879}}
He later achieved the rank of sergeant for the second time.
Death
Allen died of pneumonia in the 1889–1890 flu pandemic on 12 March 1890 at 85 Monnow Street, Monmouth at the age of 46. His body was buried at Monmouth Cemetery, Monmouthshire, with the cost of the grave and the headstone being provisioned by the South Wales Borderers Regiment.Dedication on the grave's headstone.{{Cite web |url=http://www.rorkesdriftvc.com/vc/allen.htm |via=rorkesdriftvc.com |title=Cpl. William Wilson Allen (1240 B Co. 24th. Regiment) |access-date=18 February 2012}} A posthumous charity fund was set up to assist his family, his wife, Sarah Ann and his seven children.{{cite book|type=leaflet|last=Harrison|first=David|title=Monmouth Cemetery Trail 1|date=June 2008}}
File:William Wilson Allen VC.JPG
His Victoria Cross medal is displayed at the Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh at Brecon.
Cultural references
Allen was portrayed by the actor Glynn Edwards in the 1964 cinema film Zulu."Blimey Arthur, Look what Dave's done to the Winchester", article on Glynn Edwards, T.V. Times, 25 February – 2 March 1984.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web |url=http://www.rorkesdriftvc.com/vc/allen.htm |title=Cpl. William Wilson Allen [(biography, photos, memorial details)]}}
- {{cite web |url=http://freespace.virgin.net/sean.farrell/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041108202128/http://freespace.virgin.net/sean.farrell/index.htm |archive-date=8 November 2004 |title=Frederick Hitch VC [(detailed biography, history, and Rorke's Drift)]}}
- {{cite web |url=http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/wales.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050411172448/http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/wales.htm |archive-date=11 April 2005 |title=Burial location of William Allan "Monmouthshire"}}
- {{cite web |url=http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/ccswalbo.htm |title=Location of William Allan's Victoria Cross is at "South Wales Borderers Museum, Brecon"}}
{{Royal Welsh}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, William Wilson}}
Category:Military personnel from Northumberland
Category:British recipients of the Victoria Cross
Category:South Wales Borderers soldiers
Category:Anglo-Zulu War recipients of the Victoria Cross
Category:British Army personnel of the Anglo-Zulu War
Category:Deaths from the 1889–1890 flu pandemic
Category:Infectious disease deaths in Wales
Category:British Army recipients of the Victoria Cross