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Captain James Robert Allan

Portrait of a soldier wearing peak hat.

Capt. Allan
1918. The Christmas Echo: London’s Honour Roll 1. LLSC.

A silver Greek cross suspend to a metal plaque by a purple ribbon. Two small, diamond shaped embroidery (pips) and a brass maple leaf with a crown and the word CANADA. The photograph of a soldier wearing a peak hat is at the top right.

Silver Cross, Pips and CEF Badge
Ca. 1920. The Silver Cross was issued to Capt. Allan’s mother, badge and pipes belonged to the deceased. VAC, “James Robert Allan.” CVWM. Accessed February 12, 2017.

CEF no. 5618

Allan was born in London, ON, on 30 July 1893. The son of Mary and William Allan, of 528 Horton Street, he was one of nine children. Before the war, he worked as a bank clerk. When he enlisted in the CEF on 23 September 1914, with the Divisional Engineers, Allan had served for three and half years in the militia. He rose through the ranks quickly and by February 1916 he was promoted to Captain in the 3rd Canadian Division, Signal Company. Capt. Allan was killed in action on 20 September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme.

He is commemorated on page 46 of the First World War Book of Remembrance (Memorial Chamber, Peace Tower, Parliament Hill).

Grave: Albert Communal Cemetery Extension, France.