ALLAN Robert Lieut

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Surname: ALLAN;

Forename(s): Robert;

Initials: R;

Rank: Lieut;

Resided in: Motherwell;

Previous Battalion: 2/5 of;

Previous Regiment: Loyal N Lanc Regt;

MGC Branch: Infantry;

MGC Unit: 3 Bn;

Other MGC Unit Served (1): 8 Coy;

Other MGC Unit Served (2): 3 Bn;

Awarded: MC, MID;

Gallantry Notes: MC: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of a battery of machine guns during two days' action. Though wounded in the head, he refused to leave his post, but remained and brought his section out of action.;

Other Data: Inns of Court OTC: 6/1/6265 16/9/1915, LNL Regt 6/1/1916, MGC, Capt, wounded, MC, DCM, MID. 34 Toll St, Motherwell, Scotland
Adjt 3 Bn
taken on strength of 8 Coy 21/8/1916
award of MC confirmed in war diary 3/11/1917

The following from Jim Parker archive:
Captain Robert Allan MC DCM - 5 th
Loyals attached Machine Gun Corps
Robert was born on 7 February 1888 in Arbles Street, Motherwell, in the Parish of Hamilton,
Scotland, the son of John and Janet Allen
He was educated Dalzial [sp] High School, Motherwell, Glasgow and London Universities,
and became a Schoolmaster.
At some time, he emmigrated to South Africa, and was commissioned in the Transvaal
Volunteer, Union Defence Force; he resigned his commission on 20 June 1913, when he left
the Colony. He next served in the 1 st Rhodesian Regiment as a Colour Sergeant until the
regiment was disbanded on 31 July 1915.
He served in the South African Rebellion in 1914 and the German South West Campaign in
1914/15 and it is understood in was during this period Robert was awarded the
Distinguished Conduct Medal.
On 16 th September 1915 Robert a single man enlisted and embodied as Number 6265 in the
Inns of Court Officer Training Corps. He was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 16
October 1915 and Corporal and Lance Sergean t on 9 November 1915. His and his father, he
next of kin is given as 34 Toll Street, Motherw ell, Scotland. He is described as being 27
years 7 months of age, standing 5 feet, 6 ½ inches tall, and weighed 148 pounds.
On 5 January 1916 having served 112 days, he was discharg e d on being granted a
commission as Second Lieutenan t in the 2/5 Battalion The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment.
It is possible Robert saw very little of his parent regiment, before he was attached or
seconded to the Machine Gun Corps. Exactly when Robert was seconde d to the Machine Gun
Corps is not known, the Army List of July 1916 records his commission under 5 th Loyal North
Lancashir e Regiment as Second Lieuten ant as being in on 6 January, he not linked to a
battalion serving overseas or with “mgc” by his name. Officers trained on the machine gun,
and especially those attached to the Machine Gun Corps had mgc next to their name. We
may assume therefore Robert had not yet joined an MGC unit by the outbreak of the Battle
of the Somme.
Robert is known later to have been a member of 3rd Battalion Machine Gun Corps.
By 1918/19 Robert was a Temporary Captain, (substantive Lieutenant) and having been
embodied for war as a territorial officer, he was disembodied on 8 October 1919, and,
restored to the establishment 5th Battalion The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, on
ceasing to be employed with the MGC (Infantry)

Awarded OBE: Motherwell Times 01 March 1957;

Other Notes: MC: LG 26/11/1917 (6/4/1918)
MID: LG 27/12/1918 A/Capt, MC, DCM
DCM: LG 22/08/1918 (No 247 Col Sgt. 1 Rhod. Regt) for German SW Africa 1914-15;

END OF RECORD.

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