My Grandad
Herbert Allen 1887 to 1962
by Clive Lombari
My granddad Herbert Allen was the only son of Big Jim Allen the Fairground
Booth Boxer. He did have four younger sisters though. Lizzie Goss (Elizabeth
Ann), Louie Ansell (Beatrice), Norah Allen, Violet May Allen (Alexandra)
Big Jim Allen. He used to travel around the country as a Fair Booth boxer.
He was big and strong and boxing came easy to him. The more he boxed
the better he got, but when Herbert was old enough to start school he gave
it up and got a job at Arlesey Cement Works. His mother Ellen Dear “Nellie”
was the daughter of The Fountain Publicans, George and Mary Ann Dear.
She later ran the shop where Fairfield Garage office now stands. Herbert
was born in the now demolished 122 Crawley Terrace in 1887.
He moved to 237 Asylum Road about 1900. He lived here at least until
he left school. His dad moved to 40 New Rd (Newtown) in 1911 and by then
Herbert, who was 24, had moved out. When he left school Herbert started
working with his dad and Allen Uncles at the Arlesey Cement Works. When
work was scarce Granddad even walked to the East End of London and got
a job on the docks. The First World War started and Herbert was called up.
He was pretty useful with his fists like his dad. Tough as he was, Herbert
saw some terrible things in the war, but never talked about it.
The Allens were a cricket mad family and Herbert was a demon fast bowler
for The Lamb Inn, who played in Lamb Meadow. The Three Counties Asylum
poached him so he could play for them. It was here he met my grandmother
who became his wife, when she was making tea for the cricketers.
I used to regularly look at Herberts medals and sometimes I was allowed
to clean them. When Nan was in her 80′s they disappeared. They were
medals given for fighting in a war zone. The star was for fighting in France or
Flanders. The lady with wings is the victory medal. The King George Medal
and the set of 3 were for serving the full term of the war. A soldier only got 2
if they joined after 1915. I looked up Granddad in the National Archives and
have a copy of the paperwork saying he was awarded all three.
Mary Mills “Polly” parents Jane Avery and Jim Mills had emigrated to
Canada with her youngest sister Daisey. Mary needed somewhere to live
and a job. So when Three Counties Asylum were recruiting in Mere Wiltshire
it seemed the answer to her prayers. Herbert and Polly started courting
and after a time they married. They now needed a house. They moved into
Gothic Farm with dad Big Jim and worked there as an Agricultural Labourer.
He also worked at Waterloo Farm. Herbert heard the foreman at the
Brickyard was retiring so Herbert blagged his way into the job.
He told them he was a Sergeant in the army and was used to dealing with
men. He got the job and a Brickyard house went with it. Herbert carried on
working up here till he ݅̀