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7013043 Private Thomas William Allen

We are keen to hear from anyone who is a relative or knows anything about Private Thomas Allen.

Please don't hesitate to contact us so we can share the story of this brave man.


Born: 27 Nov 1919
Died: 10 Jun 1991
Age at death: 71 years, 6 months, and 14 days
Company: SP
Platoon: MMG
Section:
Parachute Course:

Life Story:
7013043 Private Thomas William Allen was born in Belfast on 27 November 1919.
He joined the army on 27 October 1936 and enlisted in the Royal Ulster Rifles (Supplementary Reserve).
On the 6th June 1937 he enlisted into the regular army and served with the Royal Irish Fusiliers in Malta and Palestine.
In July 1943 he volunteered for Airborne forces and was on Parachute Course 69 at Ramat David, Palestine, from 28 September – 05 October 1943.
Thomas joined the 11th Parachute Battalion in September of that same year.
He jumped at Arnhem on Monday 18 September 1944 and got wounded in the chest on the 20th.
He was taken Prisoner of War and ended up in Stalag 11B at Fallingbostel, Germany. His POW number was 200466.
Thomas was repatriated on 21 April 1945.
On 14 May 1945 he rejoined the Army Reserve and was finally discharged on 30 November 1948 on medical grounds.
Thomas died on 10 June 1991.


Thanks to R.P. “Bob” Hilton; Diana Andrews; Allan Brown; Andrew Blacklock; Jon Baker; John Howes; Graham Francis; Bob Gerritsen; Darren Wielink; Maarten Lenssen; Judith Minkman; Philip Reinders; Hans den Brok; many 11th Battalion veterans; family, next of kin and friends; staff of the Airborne Museum Hartenstein Oosterbeek; Airborne Assault Museum Duxford; and Gerrit Pijpers OBE without whom this website would not have been possible.