SAPPER JOHN ALLAN
5276 - 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company
John was born on 31.3.1891 in Burrum, Queensland, the youngest child of Andrew and Mary (nee McDonald) Allan. He had four sisters and two brothers.
After completing his school years at the Torbanlea State School, John followed his brothers and father in becoming a coal miner. He worked in the collieries in the Howard area and by 1913 he was working at the Bluff Colliery. Bluff is located in the Central Highlands, 94 kms east of Emerald on the Capricorn Highway
John, aged 24 years, enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Rockhampton on 19 January 1916. He named as his Next-of-Kin his sister, Mrs Mary Ann Rodgers, also of Bluff, Queensland. [Mary Ann was the wife of 7219 2nd Corporal John Rodgers who also served with 2nd Aust. Tunnelling Company]
The Capricornian, Rockhampton, Queensland - 18 March 1916:
THE BLUFF - (From a Correspondent)
A very pleasant evening was spent in the School of Arts on the 8th instant, the occasion being a send-off tendered to five of our soldiers who were on home leave before their departure for Melbourne.
They were Messrs T. and D. Madders, J. Allan, W. McElligott, W. Ruff, and two other soldiers of the same company, Privates M. Bowen and L. De Chastel.
Fully twenty-five couples graced the floor. The music was supplied by Misses Napper, McCallum, and Messrs. McElligott, Ruff, and Lovejoy. Mr. J. Rodgers acted as master of ceremonies, and kept matters going merrily.
During an interval a presentation of a safety razor, shaving brush, soap, and pencil was made to each of the local soldiers and the two visiting soldiers were each presented with a silver match box with their initials suitable engraved. Mr. Rodgers, in making the presentation in a neat speech, referred to the number of enlistments from Bluff. He said no less than fourteen had been accepted, which he claimed as a record for Queensland, taking into consideration the population of Bluff. Should other towns and cities answer the call on a pro rata basis there would be no necessity for recruiting committees or conscription to be put into force. He also referred to shirkers and slackers and pointed out how Mr. and Mrs. Madders, senr., who have already given three sons, whilst the remaining two have been called on for medical inspection. This he claimed as hardly fair whilst there were still single men in Queensland who have no dependents on them and had no intention of enlisting.
In handing each solider his present he said he was proud to know there were such able bodied men as them who had heard the call of the motherland and so nobly responded to it. No doubt they had heard the call from their wounded comrades at Gallipoli and were now answering that call for assistance. On behalf of the people of Bluff he wished each and everyone of them Godspeed and a safe and victorious return at the conclusion of the war. He felt sure they would do their duty nobly and be a credit to the Australian troops who had already made such a name for themselves.
In reply Private Bowen said on behalf of his comrades he thanked the people of Bluff for the presents they had given them. He also wished to thank Mr. Rodgers for the kindly sentiments expressed by him. He was not an orator and would sooner face the Kaiser than an audience. At the conclusion of the war they would try to bring the Kaiser back with them to Bluff so that the ladies could tar and feather him. He assured them that each and everyone of them would do his best to uphold the traditions of the Australian troops.
Three cheers were then called for the Allies and three also for King George, which were heartily given. Dancing was continued until 3.30 a.m., when all the residents assembled at the railway station to see our boys depart. "Soldiers of the King" was sang as the train was leaving. The soldiers answered with a hearty cheer.
The Bluff, 9th March, 1916.
John stayed with 11th Depot Battalion until 19 February when he was transferred to the Mining Corps A.I.F. He was then appointed to the Miners Reinforcements at Seymour on 16 August 1916.
He embarked on HMAT A23 Suffolk departing Melbourne, Victoria on 30 September 1916 with 166 members of the September 1916 Reinforcements to the Mining Corps. The ship arrived at Fremantle, Western Australia on 10 October and departed the same day. Arriving at Capetown, South Africa on 30 October, Suffolk departed the next day and voyaged on to Dakar in West Africa arriving on 15 November. After a delay of 5 days, the ship sailed for Plymouth, England on 20 November, and after a voyage lasting 64 days, the Tunnellers disembarked on 2 December and marched into the Australian Details Camp at Parkhouse.
John spent some time in hospital at Bulford from 22 January to 10 March 1917. He marched into the Drafting Depot on 29 March and proceeded overseas to France on 14 April 1917.
He marched into the Australian General Base Depot at Rouen on 15 April and was attached to the 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion on 21 April, then to the Reinforcements Tunnelling Companies from where John was attached to the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company on 5 May 1917. He was taken on strength of that unit on 6 June.
John was wounded in action (Gas Shell) on 28 February 1918. The War Diary of the 2nd Tunnelling Company records:
"28/2/18 No.1 Section Camp again heavily bombarded, many direct hits on shelters taking place. Camp abandoned and men billeted in METZ. 38 cases of gassing. Total to date from the three bombardments, 77 cases. On account of these casualties the work in 2nd Div. Area being done by No.1 Sec. was stopped.
Weather wet."
He was treated at the 149th Field Ambulance and transferred the same day to the 57th Field Ambulance. On 2 March 1918 he was transferred to the 47th General Hospital at Le Treport from where he embarked for England on 8 March and was admitted to the Emergency War Hospital at Ilford.
John was discharged to furlough on 1 April. He met up with his brother-in-law Jack Rodgers, also in England recovering from gas poisoning, and they visited Mrs HG Wheeler, who kept in contact with soldiers from Central Queensland during WW1. John returned to the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge Deverill on 15 April. He again proceeded overseas to France on 29 June 1918 and marched into the Australian General Base Depot, rejoining his unit on 4 July.
He reported to hospital sick in France on 28 September and after recovering from influenza, rejoined his unit on 15 November 1918.
He enjoyed some leave in France from 21 March to 4 April and on 10 May marched out to Base Depot for return to Australia, leaving France on 16 May.
John Allan returned to Australia per Chemnitz, leaving London on 7 July 1919 and arriving at Sydney, New South Wales on 8 September 1919. He was discharged from the AIF on 24 October 1919, entitled to wear the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
John returned to Bluff and married Cecilia Madders on 30 Mar 1921. They later went back to live in the Howard area where John continued to work as a coal miner. They had two sons and two daughters. John Allan died, aged 80 years, on 1 January 1972 in Maryborough, QLD.
Submitted by Val McKenzie and Cathy Allan
Photos courtesy Val McKenzie