Lives of the First World War

“Tom Allen and his Ideals” Under the above title - edited by his mother, an interesting biography of Lieut. Tom Allen who from 1911 till he joined the army early in September 1914 was the beloved head of the House for Trinity men connected with the Trinity (Oxford) mission, Stratford, has been published by Wilson and Whitworth Ltd. There must be many more of the people of West Ham than Mrs Allen knows of who enjoyed the acquaintance of her son and in spite of the ravages of war among its members a great number of young men of Stratford who had the privilege of coming under Mr Allen’s influence at Trinity Mission. All of those who are able to obtain the book will be grateful to Mrs Allen for her simply written account of his life and her extracts from his letters. A pleasant picture of his home, school and college life is followed by his entry into social life at Bermondsey, where in 1909, whilst still at college, he helped in London social work. At Oxford, he obtained his degree (with a fourth in history) and obtained his Rugby Blue. His work at Stratford started in 1911 and he was here interested generally in the welfare of the community as well as especially in the young community amongst which he lived. Among interesting quotations from letters and writings one from the mission magazine “Continuation Schools”, written anonymously, is especially interesting in view of the present controversy on the subject. The trinity mission boys club were in camp when the war broke out. Its return was hastened and until social matters were put in order, Mr Allen was busy on relief and other work, but early in September he enlisted as a private in the Grenadier Guards. As a private, he hoped to get overseas earlier, but he was offered a commission in the Irish Guards, going to Warley at the end of the month. Fortunately Mrs Allen includes an essay on ‘“Discipline” written by her son in the course of training and afterwards commended by the adjutant as a splendid essay. It is an essay worth preserving and general reading. In February, Lieut. Allen left for France, where less than one month later, in the firing trenches near La Bassée he was killed instantaneously by a shell. Letters of the warmest appreciation of Lieut. Allen’s worth from his senior officers are included and are accompanied by what must have been even more heartfelt letters from many who knew him in his work at Stratford. (From a manuscript copy of the review included in Maisie's copy of the book)

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