Story
Charles Allen, living in Parkstone, signed his attestation forms at the age of 48 years and 219 days (he may even have been a year or two older). Born, according to his Army record, in Dartford, Kent in 1865, he put his name down to join the Hants Regt. on 12 May 1915. (His regimental number with the Hampshires was 21920.) Private Allen, whose home was at 2 Gordon Buildings, Bournemouth Road, Parkstone, had previously served his country in Egypt in 1884 with the 19th Princess of Wales Hussars. Stocky of build, he was just under 5ft. 8in. with a 41.5in. chest. He was transferred on 29 April 1916, serving in the Royal Defence Corps and posted on 24 February 1917. Charles, RDC regimental number 12816, was promoted to L/Cpl and was discharged from service in 1919, apparently aged 52 (though he may have been a little older). His record states that he served at Home but also, subsequently, that served in the Southern theatre of war. Charles was the son of a labourer, George Allen and his wife Charlotte, both from Kent. Evidently, they spent some time in Australia for their eldest daughter, Ann, was born in Brunswick, Victoria (also recorded elsewhere as Melbourne) around 1856. Their next child, Edward, however, was born in Kent four years later. The couple had at least seven children. Charles, at the age of 17, was employed as a page boy servant at Rufus Lodge, in Guestling, Sussex, gave the Army the name and address of his sister, Annie Green, of Juno(?) Lodge, Alexander Road, Branksome, as his next of kin. (His record also gives her name and address as Mrs. W.H. Green, living in Yorkshire.) In 1891, Charles was lodging with Annie, her husband, William and their eight children in Gas Works Road, Kinson. William was Superintendent of the Gas Works and Charles was a gas works labourer. Annie, Charles's sister, had been born in Melbourne, Australia, around 1856. By 1911, Charles, (now listed as Claude Charles Allen, 42) though still working as a gas works labourer, had moved to Stanpit, Christchurch, to lodge at the home of a 59-year-old widow who worked as a laundress. (He gave Poole as his address on attesting after the start of the First World War.) At the outbreak of the Second World War, a Charles Allen, born in 1863, was living at the Fairmile Institute. His occupation was listed as Indoor Servant (Butler).