Francis Allanson

Francis Allanson was the elder brother of Henry Peter Allanson who is commemorated on the Hampton Wick War Memorial and the son of Mrs Mary Frances Allanson.

Like his brother and sister, he was born in Hampton Wick. The family moved to Park View (6 Church Grove), Hampton Wick, in 1890. In the 1891 Census his father, Henry Allanson, who was born in Trinity Square, London was described as being 46 years old and a Commercial Clerk.

According to the Probate Register at the time of his father’s death on 19 November 1898, the family had moved to Gables, Upper Teddington Road, Hampton Wick. His widow, now aged about 45, was left comfortably off as her husband bequeathed her an estate worth a considerable £7900 18s 10d. Accordingly, by the time of the 1901 Census the family occupied an eight room property at 6 Lansdowne Terrace (41 Lower Teddington Road), Hampton Wick, together with one domestic servant.

Like his younger brother, Henry Peter Allanson, Francis attended the prestigious Catholic Public School, Ampleforth College in distant Yorkshire. Francis joined the school in 1894 and his brother followed four years later.

His Medal Card reveals an interesting service career. Having enlisted early as a Private (2327) in the Honourable Artillery Company, he was sent to France on 24 January 1915. He must have been ill or wounded as he subsequently transferred to the Labour Corps as a Private (209478) although he ultimately moved to the Royal Air Force sometime after 1 April 1918 as a cadet being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant on 3 August 1918.

Francis Allanson died, aged 50, at Steyne House, Steyne Road, Newhaven, Sussex on 14 June 1932. Under his will he left his personal effects worth £1,024 4s 11d to his spinster sister, Bertha Emily Allanson. His grave bears a headstone reminiscent of the simple CGWC memorials with the Latin for peace inscribed on it.