Regiment: 11th Battalion Royal Sussex
Service No: TF/290013
Date and place of birth: 4th qtr 1883 in Midhurst
Date and place of death: 3 April 1918 (aged 34) near Pozieres, France
Family background
George Allin was the fourth son of Frederick Heath and Elizabeth Allin, nee Sheppard, who married in 1869. He was baptised in Midhurst Parish Church on 25 November 1883.
In 1871 Frederick (30) and Elizabeth (26) were living at Burgage House in Knockhundred Row, Midhurst with their son John (2 months). Frederick Allin was an Ironmonger.
In 1881, he was an Ironmonger Master, employing two boys and still living in Knockhundred Row with his wife and sons: John (10), Richard (8) and Frederick (5). Also living with them was Ellen Bowdidge (19), a general servant. Twin daughters, Elizabeth and Edith were born. They were baptised on 5 April 1881, but did not survive.
In 1891 Frederick Allin was still an ironmonger in Knockhundred Row. His sons John (20) and Richard (18) were working for him as ironmonger assistants. George (7) was still at school. Frederick Allin (15) was listed as a visitor with Matthew and Mary Clayton in High Street, Warblington, Sussex and his trade was given as butcher.
John Allin died, aged 21, on 11 March 1892.
In 1901 Frederick Allin and Elizabeth Allin listed Frederick Allin (25) as an assistant worker in the ironmongery business and George (17) with ‘no occupation’.
Frederick Heath Allin died 8 November 1905, aged 66, and at the 1911 census Elizabeth Allin was running the business and still living in Knockhundred Row with George (27), a painter decorator.
Frederick Allin (36) with his wife Margaret Bishop Allin (30) were living in Melrose Villa, Easebourne, Sussex.
Richard Allin (38), an ironmonger’s manager, was living with his wife Ada Frances, nee Bone, (33) and their two children: John Sheppard Allin (6) and Geoffrey George Allin (2) at 3, Sussex Terrace, Station Road Midhurst.
In 1916 George Allin married Daisy Bristow in Rochford, Essex. She was living in Horsham, Sussex, at the time of his death. In 1911 she was working as a confectioner’s assistant and living at 26 The Causeway, Horsham. She subsequently married Edward Bailey in 1920 in Horsham.
Military service
George Allin enlisted in Midhurst and joined The Royal Sussex Regiment (1st South Down). The regiment was formed in 1914 by local MP Claude Lowther and a committee in Bexhill on Sea, Sussex and moved to Maidstone, Kent. In July 1915, under War Office command it moved to Aldershot and then to Witley to join the 116th Brigade of the 39th Division. They mobilised for war, landed in Le Havre and moved to the Western Front. They were involved in the Battles of Richebourge l’Avoue, Thiepval Ridge and the Battles of Ancre and Ancre Heights (1916), Pilkern Ridge, Langemak, Menin Road Ridge, Polygon Wood and the 2nd Battle of Passchendale (1917), St Quentin (21 to 23 March) Bapaume (24 – 25) March and Rosieres (26 to 27 March 1918)
The losses were so great at this time that by 23 May 1918 they were reduced to a training cadre.
Death and commemoration
George Allin was killed in action while fighting with the British Expeditionary Force on 3 April 1918. He is commemorated on Midhurst War Memorial, Memorial Panels in Midhurst Parish Church, Pozieres Memorial, Panel 46 & 47, the Board in Midhurst Rother College and on the family memorial stone in Midhurst Cemetery.
George Allin was awarded Victory and British medals.
Subsequent family history
Elizabeth Allin died on 11 November 1933 in her ninetieth year in Midhurst.
Frederick Allin died in July 1954 in Rochford, Essex, age 78. He was, at that time, living in Southend-on-Sea.
Richard Allin died 15 October 1954 in Midhurst