A First War Group To Trooper Allen; Lord Strathcona's Horse, Calgary Highlanders

Canada; 1914-15 Star (2508 TPR. T.W. ALLEN. LD: S'CONA'S H.); British War Medal (2508 PTE. W.P. ALLEN. L.S.H. -R.C.-); Victory Medal (2508 PTE. W.P. ALLEN. L.S.H. -R.C.-); and Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal, George V (SGT. W.P. ALLEN. CALG. HIGHRS.). Naming is officially impressed. Court-mounted with a shortened swing bar pinback, replacement ribbons, edge wear on the BWM, edge nicks on the VM and the CAFLSM, lacquered, very fine.

Footnote: William Patterson Allen was born on September 26, 1879 in Toronto, Ontario. He enlisted with the Lord Starthcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) on August 12, 1914 at Hanna, Alberta and signed his Attestation Paper as a Trooper (2508) with the Lord Strathcona's Horse, on September 25, 1914 at Camp Valcartier, at the age of 34, one day shy of his thirty-fifth birthday, naming his next-of-kin as his father, D.S. Allen of Hanna, stating that he had ten years' previous service with the 97th Regiment and two years with the 21st Alberta Hussars, that he was not married and that his trade was that of Farmer. He is also acknowledged in his records as being a Motorman. His unit sailed on October 3, 1914, arriving in England shortly thereafter. After almost seven months training and orientation, Allen embarked for France with the Lord Strathcona's Horse, as part of the 1st Canadian Division, from Maresfield, East Sussex, on May 4, 1915. He was in France for twenty days, when he was wounded by an exploding shell (shrapnel) at the Battle of Festubert in the Artois region of France, on May 24, 1915. He was "buried by high explosive", causing the "caving in of the trench". He suffered a concussion, which was later described as a "contusion", also straining his back and suffering a "rupture on (the) inguinal hernia" on the left side, along with "deafness in his left ear". He was admitted to No. 1 Canadian Field Ambulance, then transferred to No. 10 Casualty Clearing Station the same day. Two days later, he was admitted to No. 13 General Hospital at Boulogne on May 26th, where he would remain for the next three weeks, before being discharged on June 16th. He was subsequently admitted to Base Details at Boulogne on July 2nd. Eleven weeks later, Allen was transferred to England, where he was struck off strength of Lord Strathcona's Horse and posted to Shorncliffe (Permanent Base), on September 16, 1915, then taken on strength at the Canadian Convalescent Depot at Shorncliffe on September 18th. He was discharged in consequence as being "Medically Unfit" at Shorncliffe, on October 29, 1915, credited with having served one year and 79 days. He was struck off strength upon sailing for Canada on November 5, 1915. Upon arrival in Canada, he was posted to the Canadian Cavalry Discharge Depot at Quebec City. A Medical Board met there on November 16, 1915 to discuss his case and determined that his hernia issue was permanent but could be cured by an operation. The Board also stated that his deafness was to be permanent and that in three monthshis shoulders would be fine. The Board recommended on November 20th that he be admitted to Military Hospital for a hernia operation and massage to his shoulders, noting that his character was "Very Good". He returned to Alberta and was operated on at Calgary General Hospital for his hernia, the operation being successful and he was cured. He was subsequently posted to Ogden Convalescent Home in Calgary, Alberta on February 3, 1916, where he would convalesce. In his Medical History of an Invalid, dated April 5, 1916 at Ogden, the Medical Board recommended that he receive one months' additional treatment at Ogden. His case was reviewed on May 6th, where the physician noted "Slightly impaired resonance in left side of (the) back following very closely the scapula to the inferior angle". The Board recommended another month at Ogden and that his condition should be reviewed at that time. His condition was reassessed on June 9th, the Board recommending that he be discharged and noting that Allen's "Earning power (was) diminished by one quarter". He was examined one last time at Ogden, on August 7, 1916, the doctor noting in his report that Allen had been "buried by high explosive on May 24, 1915, affected his hearing. Ears discharged for about 3 weeks after (the) injury. Hearing, right ear, watch 9 inches, voice 20 feet; left ear, watch nil, voice nil, bone conduction nil. Patient is nervous and apathetic. Tympanum shows evidence of rupture which is now healed." He was officially discharged from Ogden Convalescent Home on August 13, 1916. By November 16, 1916, its was noted that the fibrous bands of (his) right deltoid muscle was limiting his power of lifting, but that his general state of health was "good". For his First World War service, he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He was later acknowledged in his records as being married to Mary R. Allen. Sergeant William Patterson Allen was with the Calgary Highlanders when he was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal by Government Order 113 in 1928. He died on January 30, 1950 at the age of 70.