Catalogue description ALLEN William Richard Sergt 79647

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Surname: ALLEN;

Forename(s): William Richard;

Initials: WR;

Number: 79647;

Rank: Sergt;

Resided in: Dolgelly;

Previous Number: 9480;

Previous Regiment: RNAS;

MGC Branch: Motors;

MGC Unit: Dunsterforce;

Date abroad: 01-Dec-1915;

Theatre of War: 3;

Discharge Date: 14-May-1919;

Other Data: POW TurkeyADM116/1717: of Star Stones, Dolgelly, N Wales.NOK: father, William Allen, same address.Embarked for Russia 1/12/1915 - on detached service, Dobrudsha - Hirsova. To Romania - Galatzawarded silver breast medal, St Stanislas ribbon, for hard work7/6/1917 to Galicia - Telyache. 17/9/1917 left base for Brovary - to UK 18/1/1918 transf to MGCRed Cross List - Dunster Force - posted missing 26/7/1918ICRC Ref: ???? Not foundWar Office Casualty List 17/9/1918 (missing believed killed)War Office Casualty List 24/12/1918 p34 (repatriated POW)Biographical note, from telephone conversation with his son-in-law, Mr Wardle; NL Feb 1998.W R Allen was a trained singer, attended Royal College of Music before WW1 and entertained his comrades often during the war. Afterwards he went on to become Professor of Singing at Aberystwyth University. He went into Armoured Cars from the Navy, in which he was a Petty Officer, and his Commander, Locker Lampson, was a Naval officer. By 1918, when he was captured by the Turks, the Armoured Cars came under command of the Machine Gun Corps in which he had rank of sergeant.

1. 2 sheets of paper re his captivity in the Caucasus:Machine Gun Corps,Brigade HQ.14 Sept 1918.Dear Mr Allen, I telegraphed to you today on behalf of Col Crawford, that we had received unofficial news that your son, Sgt W R Allen, was a prisoner of war. One of the local inhabitants who has come in through our lines brought the information that the Turks had five English prisoners. This was the number missing with your son and as they were the only English missing in that area for some considerable time, it seems practically certain that they are safe. In the meantime we are making every effort to get this news confirmed and you may rest assured that I will communicate with you directly I hear anything definite. It is perhaps unnecessary for me to add how your son is missed in the Regiment. His willing and energetic ways made him a favourite with all and his glorious voice will be sadly missed at our small concerts. Very sincerely yours, Sauo J Harman (? Paper torn) Dunsterforce Armoured Car Brigade. The other is too faded to read coherently. It seems to be about his pay while POW.

2. A small red covered notebook containing his account of his adventures in Russia and the Middle East; also the words of several popular songs

3. Four sheets of typescript, presented to BTM by7 Mr L Wardle , son-in-law of Sgt Allen. The words of the typescript are not quite the same as those in the notebook, which are recorded here.This, presumably is an account given by Petty Officer W.R.Allen to the pupils of Dr Williams School, Dolgelley after his return from Turkey.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It is said that conversation between English men usually turns to smoke and that of English women touches on the subject of fashion. I may add further that conversation of soldiers usually turns to travel and experiences of the campaign.

RUSSIAN EXPERIENCES. For a very few moments, I will dwell on a few of my experiences in Russia and elsewhere during the last three years. It was my lot in the winter of 1915 to be bound for the cold regions of Europe, the vast country of Russia. The outward journey from Liverpool on S.S.Umona took 3 weeks, whereas in peacetime 10 days to Archangel on a good boat seems an outrageous journey. We were bound for the magnificent port of Archangel in the White Sea but owing to it having frozen over earlier than usual we were compelled to land at a port 700 miles from our destination and in the most northerly part of Russia called Lapland. As the Gulf stream runs up as far as this it is always open to vessels; that is, there is no danger of vessels being frozen in during winter months. Here we did most of our training in temperatures always below zero and often between 25 - 40 degrees of frost. The Russians did not see the good use that could be made of this fine harbour until the arrival of the British. Within the last 3 years a railway has been built from here to Petrograd, the only means of transport prior to this was by foot or sleigh. When we were there, mail used to arrive in three sleighs having travelled trackless snowbound countries for hundreds of miles.We procured our water from a lake, the ice on which was over 1 foot thick and consequently, every morning we were obliged to break the ice to draw our supply of water. Reindeer or venison made a nice meat dish but when not in season became very bitter, unpleasant to taste We had various forms of amusement but we all went mad over tobogganing and skiing as change from our English games of football, hockey etc, But I must leave Alexandrovsk. When the summer conditions commenced, the ice in the White Sea began to disappear and in May we were reluctantly compelled to leave Lapland for serious duties. By the by, our only duty of importance during training at Alexandrovsk was the guarding of the cable station. This cable was laid between Alexandrovsk and Peterhead in Scotland and it would be an easy task for a submarine crew to cut it near this spot but I do not think that they relished the cold waters of the Arctic Ocean. Towards Archangel, we sailed in a fine boat called Czar and we were received at this port with open arms by the Russian populace. Here we were given a Russian ikon captured by the British in the Crimean War and courteously presented to the ecclesiastical authorities in Archangel. These authorities asked our detachment to accept this ikon ,which it was hoped would accompany us in our journey and inspire our troops. A solemn ceremony accompanied the presentation, which included a platter of wood, some salt and bread, a token of Russian hospitality, as the mayor of the town flung his arms around our commander and kissed him passionately on both cheeks. This state of welcome continued at every town on our progress. The train would be stopped night and day at all towns of any size and the mayor in each case awaited it with a welcome unknown outside Russia. "God save the King" would be played always three times but the melody of this air was sometimes unrecognisable to us as I believe that some of the bands attempted to play it at first sight. I may mention again that the train would be stopped quite regardless of the convenience of military or civilian passengers who chanced to be on board; and I may add that a good many of these passengers had journeys 6 or 7 days to perform and not 6 or 7 hours which is considered long in England. The reception at Moscow exceeded in magnificence anything I have ever seen in my life. The train was held up here for three days and three nights while the town went mad over the "dear English " as they called us then. Here I met a Dolgelley fellow, a brother of Mrs Ellis, Cadir Villas who is an old pupil of this school (presumably Dr. Williams School, Dolgelley). I never though then that I should witness such a turning of the tables at the finish and which inevitably has made us lose sight of these early days of spontaneous friendship and goodwill. From Moscow we went or struck south arriving at a town called Vladikarkas in the Caucasus, the range of mountains 700 miles long, stretching from the Caspian Sea in the east to the Black Sea in the west. Here we were dumped to overhaul our armoured cars in preparation for work in Turkey and Persia. Vladikarkas is somewhat similar to Dolgelley in size but not in the amount of rain. It is the home of the Cossacks and guards the entrance to the Caucasus; the interpretation is "the gate of the Caucasus". The Caucasus is very romantic in study. There are over 60 languages spoken there and very often neighbouring tribes cannot understand one another’s languages. I heard a chaplain mentioning the fact that there is an old British tribe there, I should say descendants of the Scots who went out with the Crusaders. I cannot vouch for this statement as I did not meet anyone in kilts. In these Caucasian villages there is little use for money so instead of which they covet swords, rifles and horses and will go to nameless lengths in order to secure the one or the other by theft. They wear, winter and summer, the Caucasian cloak called the 'bourka'; it is a black sheepskin material. They appear very villainous, but when you once make friends with them they will stick to you to the death. Close to Vladikarkas was a mountain called Kasbeck, higher than Mont Blanc itself. Of course on arrival at this town we were welcomed as only Russian hospitality can welcome foreigners. A tremendous and magnificent banquet was given us and flowers were thrown at our feet. But I pass on. We travelled along the most wonderful road in all Russia. This joins Europe to Asia. It consists in nearly 130 miles of metalled road with many a hairpin bend and precipitous 3 mile drops on either side. Armoured cars had never been seen along it before and the villagers poured out in eager interest. There was wonderful scenery here not even surpassed in Wales! After crossing the Caucasus, we came to Tiflis in Asia, and what fruit there was here! Grapes in abundance for practically no value. We went on to Turkish Armenia and here, at a place called Kars, were inspected by the Grand Duke Nicholas who was a magnificent military figure standing about 6ft 6ins in height. He was in command of the Southern Front and we were now put in his charge. Here, the squadrons, of which there were 3, were divided. Squadrons 2 and 3 remaining on this front in Armenia and we in Squadron 1 going down to Persia. The chief feature of this trip was the crossing of Lake Urmia on barges. This lake was 80 miles long and we took about 2 days to do the voyage encountering one of those many storms which spring up suddenly on inland seas. This lake was extremely salty, in fact being one of the most dense in the world. One can imagine how buoyant the water was when I say that you could not possibly sink if you tried and this was a great acquisition for our non-swimmers to avail themselves of the opportunity of learning that fine exercise. Here we came in contact with some Persian tribes called Kurds, magnificent in appearance and dress but whose whole lives were devoted to plundering one another’s property. As a matter of fact, we were sent down here to quell any risings. Our doctor soon made great friends with some of the chiefs and very often of a morning one would see long queues of these Kurds at the sick bay awaiting their turn for medical attention. Needless to say we had but little trouble with these wild men as they thought us little gods and as for our armoured cars, they would not dare touch them so afraid were they, never having before seen the power of steam and electricity. From this faraway spot we were dispatched for we knew not where, but we eventually found ourselves in Roumania after having been in the train close on 6 weeks. To get to Roumania we did not this time cross the Caucasus but went round via Baku. On this journey we touched Odessa, the finest Russian port on the Black Sea. It reminded one of England once again with its gaily illuminated shop windows, its magnificent buildings, its fine tramway and its gorgeous Opera House. The management of the Opera House kindly consented to give us an entertainment and they performed an act from Carmen, a fine act from Tchaikowsky, La pique et dame and also an act from Madame Butterfly. The townspeople here showered us with greetings and gave us a banquet. Western nations and more so we English and Welsh would be shocked at Russian revelry. They usually begin eating at about 6 o'clock and carry on until about 12 o’clock in spasms. After numerous impromptu toasts, they usually have a band to which they dance until the early hours of the morning. But these people are quite harmless in their frivolity. It is sheer geniality which often drives them to excess and although it was very often our fate to see a good many of them the worse for drink yet we rarely found one unpleasantly so. While liquor in England seems to turn men foolish, quarrelsome or sodden, it seems to have the opposite effect in the Russian and seems to expand his benevolence. At any of these functions it was always customary to sing one of the Russian folk songs of the Caucasus called 'Allah Vendi' which being interpreted means 'God be with you'. From Odessa, we made for the Danube, up which we travelled to Roumania where we saw some action in the Dobrudja. We had a glimpse of two lovely towns on the Danube the names of which were Braila and Galutz. Here we did the important work of demolishing all factories which would be of use to the enemy and carting to the Danube a great deal of metal. Our next quick charge was to the Galacian Front (Austria)where we witnessed the first fruits of Bolshevism. This is where our cars and Commander Locker Lampson made a name for themselves. It was here in Austrian Galicia that the Russians broke regulations of discipline, leaving the trenches without orders, throwing away their arms and ammunition and even spitting on their officers’ faces and towards the end even shooting them. It was here that I witnessed a panic retreat of men 60 miles in length all commenced by spy work. When this retreat started, it seemed like a living sea, the rumour of its approach filled the air - voices, wheels and horses hoofs. Hardly any women seemed to escape. Cars and carts were filled and crammed with soldiers and hundreds and thousands running on foot with eyes wide and absolutely mad with fright. In their agony to get away, the occupants of the cars kept on throwing out valuables against which the vehicles behind would jam and block the traffic. A good many of the small carts would try to jump the ditch at the side of the road and make for the open plain. Some succeeded, others fell headlong whereupon other carts deliberately turned and drove over the upturned carts and kicking horses using them as a bridge. Whilst all this was going on, our cars were left at the back to face the oncoming enemy. It was here that the Germans offered 20,000 marks for the body of our commander dead or alive and a further reward for any Englishman caught living. We at the time were the only unit harassing the Germans at the spot, the Russians had all downed tools. Soon after this ,the Russians signed their peace terms with Germany at Brest Litovsk and we were then recalled to England to await further developments. On our next trip out we touched a few more countries, passing through France, Italy, Egypt and eventually landing in Mesopotamia. This expedition was quite a mystery to everyone and hardly an officer knew our destination. After a short stay at the port of Basra, SE of Mesopotamia, we sailed up the Tigris towards Baghdad. The chief product of the region was dates of which they export thousands of tons a year. We passed through the so-called 'Garden of Eden' which at the present time is very barren and deserted. Other places of biblical interest were also seen such as Ezra's tomb, ruins of Ctesiphon noted in history. After a journey of 5 days up the river Tigris we eventually reached Baghdad. I may mention that at one particular spot on the river we were pestered by thousands of various kinds of flying insects such as beetles, locusts, grasshoppers and mosquitoes. They were particularly troublesome during the evening, flying round the illuminated parts of the vessel and practically obscuring the light. From Baghdad we shot forward by car, travelling north east towards northern Persia. After about 700 miles we eventually reached the Caspian Sea, having travelled NE from Baghdad. The sights we beheld on this part of the journey were ghastly. People dying in their hundreds of starvation. In one town called Hamadan, as many as 200 died in one day owing to inadequate feeding so we can consider ourselves fortunate in living in Britain. Across the Caspian Sea was our next movement and we were told that we and a few others were to defend Baku on the west coast at all costs. It was here that some of us were eventually captured and sent to a convict prison at a place called Elizabetpol in the Caucasus. Two years previously we had been received here with open arms, a band playing 'God Save the King'. Now the Turks had walked through unopposed for hundreds of miles. South of the Caucasus at the present time are thousands of Armenians dying from want of food and clothing and in one place called Evivan there are 8000 orphans. Our life amongst the chained convicts was not an acceptable one, disease was rampant and food was scarce. We received about an ounce of meat a day and a potato, about 12 oz. of black bread which contained a considerable amount of grit and dirt. I will never forget the next winter. We were very glad when on the 24th of November the gates of the prison were thrown open to us and we were free men again. I remember well our first destination - the confectioners were very soon sold out of their sweet cakes as we had not seen sugar or anything appertaining to such for many a long day! It was a dream. We were now sent to a hospital and thoroughly well cared for and, after a period of recuperation, were sent home via Batum, Constantinople, Dardenelles, Malta, Italy and France. This is a detailed account of experiences which would fill a book.;

END OF RECORD.