Military History

Promoted to Corporal 16.3.1915- 14.5.1915
Embarked Adelaide per HMAT ‘Port Lincoln’ A17 for Egypt 1.4.1915.
Roll Rank Private.
Roll Unit 12th Infantry Battalion, 5th Reinforcement, Australian Imperial Force.
Allan disembarked with the 12th Battalion Reinforcement in Egypt. He was taken on strength as Sergeant at Mudros 27.11.1915 and promoted to Lance Corporal 1.12.1915. Allan left Mudros 10.12.1915 to escort a prisoner caught with stolen goods from ANZAC to Alexandria. He returned to Mudros 12.12.1915 and was admitted sick to Hospital 13.12.1915. Allan rejoined his Battalion and returned to Alexandria per HMAT ‘Lake Michigan’ 6.1.1916. He was promoted to Sergeant at Serapeum 9.3.1916. In March the Australian Imperial Force was reorganised and the Infantry Divisions were transferred to France. Allan joined the British Expeditionary Force at Alexandria and embarked for France 29.3.1916.
His Battalion disembarked at Marseilles 5.4.1916. He was sent to the Officers Cadet School at Gales, Ayrshire, Scotland 2.8.1916 and embarked for France as Commanding Officer with 12th Battalion 2.8.1916. Allan was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant 23.10.1916. During this period he fought in trenches on the Somme. He was put on Command to the 5th Army School in France 3.4.1917. He rejoined his Unit 2.5.1917 in France as Platoon Commander. Allan was reported AWOL (away without leave) 9.7.1917.
Allan was reported KIA at Polygon Wood Belgium 6am, 28.9.1917. Several of his men advanced early over the top and he went forward to stop them. He was hit by heavy German barrage - being struck by a shell. He was buried in the field by a party of men from the Engineers and Trench Mortar Battery, on the left sector of Glencorse Wood, about 150 yards from Trench jump off. He is commemorated at Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, West Vlaanderen, Belgium.
Final Rank Lieutenant, 12th Battalion, 3rd Infantry Brigade.
Medical Condition Deceased, KIA.
Awards and Medals 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Notes Allan received a public school education and entered business college for one term. He joined the bank of NSW in Fremantle  in 1910, Perth branch in 191 and kalgoorlie in 1914. Allan had 2 brothers who enlisted but only Arthur Melville (SN 25852) went on active service. His father the Rev. Thomas Allan was awarded an MBE for his work with soldiers during the war years (Western Mail 9.6.1932 p5).Allan is commeorated in the Bank of NSW Honour Roll (1921 p21)

 His obituary notice is recorded below
‘A brave soldier, a sincere friend, a true comrade
Sadly missed.’
(West Australian Newspaper Killed in Action 20.9.1918).

Photos Lieut. Morton Allan. Photograph source Bank of NSW Roll of Honour 1921 p21.
             HMAT 'Port Lincoln'. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM PB 0867
             Stretcher bearers passing through a cemetery at Polygon Wood 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph source AWM E01912
             Menin Gate War Memorial 1938. Secured by Captain James Murphy of the British War Graves Commission. Photograph source AWM H16916


Information Source
AMW PB 0867. HMAT 'Port Lincoln'. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Photgraphic collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM E01912. Stretcher bearers passing through a cemetery at Polygon Wood 1917. Photographer unknown, photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
AWM H16916. Menin Gate War Memorial 1938. Secured by Captain James Murphy of the British War Graves Commission. Photograph sourced from the Pictorial Collection of the Australian War Memorial
Australian War Memorial Embarkation Roll- Morton McLeod Allan
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour- Morton McLeod Allan
Bank of NSW Honour Roll. ANU  website, http://ncb.anu.edu.au/sites/default/files/documents/Bank%20of%20NSW%20Roll%20of%20Honour.pdf
NAA: B2455, Allan M McL
Wesley Chapel Fallen
Wesley Chapel Honour Roll
West Australian Newspaper
Western Mail
Wise, H. and Co. Western Australian Post Office Directories. SLWA

Wesley Manse, 91 James Street, Guildford, WA.

 

Associated Images