Lives of the First World War

Source information

ID: 23274

Reference: WO372/1

Title: Medal Index Card

Description: Medal index cards were created by the Army Medal Office towards the end of the First World War. They record the medals that men and women who served in the First World War were entitled to claim.

UPP: GBM/MCI/0023291

Credit: © The National Archives

Source information

ID: 6174541

Title: Personal Knowledge of Malcolm Hulme

Description: This source of evidence is based on a Member's Personal Knowledge.

Connected by: Malcolm15901

Additional: This source of evidence is based on a Member's Personal Knowledge.

Source information

ID: 6178266

Name: RG11/4829/27/p7

Reference: Public Record Office, Kew, London

Title: 1881 Census

Description: "Dwelling: Kirby Misperton Census Place: Kirby Misperton, York, England Source: FHL Film 1342164 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 4829 Folio 27 Page7 Marr Age Sex Birthplace Willm. WALKINGTON M 66 M Hablon, York, England Rel: Head Occ: Coachman Margaret WALKINGTON M 48 F Kirby Misperton, York, England Rel: Wife Occ: Coachman Wife [Others deleted….] Ernest R. ALLEN 1 M Sparkhill Birmg Rel: Nurse Child."

Connected by: Malcolm15901

Additional: I have not been able to find a Civil Registration for Ernest Reginald Allen's birth - even though such registration started in 1837 and was compulsory from 1875.It seems, however, that he was born in 1880. The 1881 census, his marriage certificate and his death certificate confirm that it was 1880 and his daughter Grace Allen (Cox) gave me the date of 16th October.I found Annie Allen, Ernest's mother, in the 1881 census, living at Kirby Misperton in Yorkshire.A few doors away, at the home of William Walkington, I found Ernest.

Source information

ID: 6178270

Name: RG12/1264/98/p14

Reference: Public Record Office, Kew, London.

Title: 1891 Census

Description: Administrative County of Bedford, Town of Leighton Buzzard, Ecclesiastical Parish of All Saints Church Street Sarah A Mead, Head, S, 68, Nurse Sick, Employed, Beds. Leighton Buzzard William Harvey, Lodger, M, 54, Living on his means, Staffs. Lichfield Sarah Ann Harvey, Lodger, M, 56, , Leicestershire Moreton Ernest R Allen, Lodger, S, 11, Scholar, Warwicks. Birmingham

Connected by: Malcolm15901

Additional: After a short period Annie and her son, Ernest Reginald, moved on to Leighton Buzzard to work for Robert Tindall, who was lord of the manor of Kirby Misperton.John Tindall, Robert's elder brother had moved to Leighton Buzzard in about 1876.Robert (b 1852) probably moved to Leighton Buzzard before 1879 as he was married there in that year. Robert is missing from the 1881 census but his wife Katherine is at the home of her father Francis Bassett, in Leighton.Robert Tindall acted as secretary to the Beaudesert Boys School in Leighton Buzzard.Ernest R Allen, aged 11, was lodging at a house in Church Street, Leighton Buzzard, in 1891. Annie is at the house of Robert Tindall, not far away in Hockliffe Street.

Source information

ID: 6178277

Name: RG13/4303/51/p2

Reference: Public Record Office, Kew, London.

Title: 1901 Census

Description: 62 Beaucroft Road, Castleford, Yorkshire Alfred Hampton, Head, M, 44, coal hewer, worker, Staff Cradley Heath S.A.Hampton, wife, M, 40, Worc. Cradley J.Hampton, dau, S, 17, Staff Cradley Heath M.Hampton, dau, S, 10, Yorks Castleford A.Hampton, son, S, 8, Yorks Castleford Ernest Allen, visitor, S, about 25, actor, worker, not known

Connected by: Malcolm15901

Additional: In late June 1900, perhaps encouraged by previous acting successes, Ernest purchased half of the performing rights of 'Soldiers of the Queen' from John F Preston and the two men then formed a joint theatre company, 'Preston and Allen's'On 6th August, at the Royal Theatre in Lincoln, Miss May Wyniard (Mrs Ernest Allen) first appears in the cast of the play.In the 1901 census Ernest Reginald, an actor, is lodging at the house of Alfred Hampton at 62 Beaucroft Road, Castleford, Yorkshire. 'Soldiers of the Queen' was playing at the Royal Theatre in Castleford.Annie is looking after Eleanor May Allen (Ernest's wife) at Era Villa, Grove Lane, Handsworth, Staffordshire. Eleanor had just given birth to a son.

Source information

ID: 6178285

Name: 2nd April 1911

Reference: Public Record Office, Kew, London

Title: 1911 Census

Description: 208 Birmingham Road, Tipton, Staffordshire Martha Tilley, Head, 48, Single, Boarding House keeper, Netherton Thomas Segley, Boarder, 29, Single, Boatman, Birmingham Florence Cartwright, Boarder, 59, Widow, Domestic Servant, Brierley Hill Ernest Allen, Boarder, 31, Married, Actor, Stage, Birmingham Edna Allen, Boarder, 24, Married, Actress, Stage, Leeds. Ernest and 'Edna' claim to have been married for under one year. In fact, they did not marry until 1915.

Connected by: Malcolm15901

Additional: In May 1910, Ernest was working at the Royal Theatre in North Shields. Initially this was for the Stanley Rogers Company – a two month stay – but Ernest was found here on many occasions between May 1910 and November 1911. His touring life did appear to be settling, but this was probably because of the influence of the repertory movement.Ernest played in 'Under Two Flags', 'The King of Crime', 'Fifty Fafty', 'My Partner', 'The Mysteries of London', 'Revenge', 'Queen of the Night', 'Wrecker of Men', and 'Her Fatal Past'. It seems likely that during this period of relative stability, when Ernest was finally in one place for longer than a week, he met Maud Rhodes. Maud (who called herself Edna) was a dancer in the variety theatres.

Source information

ID: 6178290

Name: https://archive.thestage.co.uk/

Title: The Stage

Description: The Stage Directory (A London and Provincial Theatrical Advertiser) was founded by Maurice Comerford and Lionel Carson in February 1880 as a monthly newspaper.

Connected by: Malcolm15901

Additional: Ernest R Allen became a well-known actor and stage-manager and is mentioned many hundreds of times in the archives of 'The Stage'

Source information

ID: 6178302

Name: No 181, 3 May 1899,

Reference: General Register Office

Title: Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, England and Wales,

Description: Marriage Certificate - Ernest Reginald ALLEN and Eleanor May SHIELD

Connected by: Malcolm15901

Additional: It was on 3rd May 1899 that he married Eleanor May Shield at the Birmingham Register Office. Eleanor May was also an actress, using the stage name of May Wyniard, The first mention of her, under this name at least, is in August 1900, although she was 11 years older than Ernest and may have acted under another name prior to this. Indeed, being an actress, perhaps even in Dobell's company, would seem to be the only way that Ernest could find an opportunity to meet and fall in love with a girl. The Comédie Anglaise tour usually covered three towns a week!Ernest Reginald Allen stated on his marriage certificate that he was 22 years old and that his father was Ernest Frank Allen (deceased), a solicitor.

Source information

ID: 6178315

Name: RG13/2710/115/p42

Reference: Public Record Office, Kew, London

Title: 1901 Census (May Allen)

Description: RG13/2710/115/p42 Era Villa, Grove Lane, Handsworth, Stafford E May Allen, Head, M, 26, Durham [Arnold?] Allen, 10days, Staffordshire Handsworth Jane Whilmore, M.Nurse, W, 62, Staffordshire West Bromwich Ann Allen, M in law, 60, Shropshire Shrewsbury

Connected by: Malcolm15901

Additional: Annie (Ernest's mother) is looking after Eleanor May Allen (Ernest's wife) at Era Villa, Grove Lane, Handsworth, Staffordshire. Eleanor had just given birth to a son.

Source information

ID: 6178567

Title: Ernest Reginald Allen

Description: In later life. Photo taken in the Isle of Man.

Connected by: Malcolm15901

Source information

ID: 6178630

Name: p.3492 col.27

Reference: General Registry Isle of Man

Title: Death Certificate

Description: ALLEN, Ernest Reginald died 20th February 1958 at 27 Heather Crescent, Pulrose, Douglas, Isle of Man. Male, 77 years. An actor, latterly a power station attendant retired. Cause of death (a) acute pulmonary oedema (b) arteriosclerosis No PM required. Certified by Dr. A. Gordon Moore MB. Informant L. Allen, daughter, present at the death, same address.

Connected by: Malcolm15901

Additional: I have a copy of Ernest's death certificate. Name, address, family are all correct.

Source information

ID: 6178639

Name: J77/956

Reference: High Court of Justice

Title: Divorce Papers

Description: A bundle of documents from the High Court detailing the divorce proceedings between Ernest and May.

Connected by: Malcolm15901

Additional: All details match what is known about both parties.

Source information

ID: 6178641

Name: J77/951

Reference: High Court of Justice

Title: Co-respondent

Description: Bundle of documents detailing Ernest's part in the Taylor divorce

Connected by: Malcolm15901

Additional: All details match what is known about these persons

Source information

ID: 6178661

Title: Appeal in The Stage

Description: This was an appeal for actors to join a Pals Company under the 19th London Battalion

Connected by: Malcolm15901

Additional: Ernest joined the 19th London. He had no ties to London so I surmise it was because of this appeal.

Source information

ID: 6178669

Name: 978-1843422051

Reference: Central Lending Library

Title: The History of the 47th London Division

Description: This is the story of the 2nd London Division, which was numbered 47 in May 1915 when the TF divisions were allocated numbers.

Connected by: Malcolm15901

Additional: This is a history of the Division, providing some background detail to Ernest's war service.

Source information

ID: 6181847

Name: Issue 30750 14th June 1918, supplement p7134

Reference: Gazette Online

Title: London Gazette

Description: Notice of award of Meritorious Service Medal for valuable service in France

Connected by: Malcolm15901

Additional: Army number and name are correct

Source information

ID: 6183388

Name: 3537

Reference: Ministry of Defence

Title: War Service Record

Description: Although burnt by bombing in 2nd war, the documents are mostly legible.

Connected by: Malcolm15901

Additional: Names, addresses, army numbers all match