Source: Information forwarded by family member.
Paybook for Private Robert Allen, reg. no. 53768:
Summary of Service[i] for Private Robert Allen, reg. no. 53768
| Date | Event | Remarks |
| December 5, 1895 | Born | Born at Mount Forest, Ontario, Canada. |
| 1914 | ||
| November 2, 1914 | Enlists | Enlists at Stratford, Ontario. He is a 19-year old single machinist with no prior military experience. His next-of-kin is identified as James Allan. |
| November 11, 1914 | Inoculated | Anti-Typhus |
| November 22, 1914 | Inoculated | Anti-Typhus |
| December 15, 1914 | Vaccinated | |
| 1915 | ||
| April 1915 | Assigned Pay | Assigned $20.00 per month to Reginald Allen, 375 Ontario Street, Stratford, Ontario. |
| April 29, 1915 | Arrived England | Arrived Avonmouth. |
| July 1, 1915 | Pay Raise | To get Armourer 3rd Class pay. |
| July 9, 1915 | Transferred | Transferred to “B” Company. |
| August 9, 1915 | Promoted | Promoted to Armourer Corporal. |
| September 14, 1915 | Embarked for France | |
| September 22, 1915 | Admitted | Admitted to Canadian General Hospital, Le Treport, France. |
| September 23, 1915 | Admitted | Admitted to No. 9 Hospital, Havre, France. |
| October 19, 1915 | Admitted | No. 11 Convalescent Camp |
| October 31, 1915 | Rejoined Unit | “In the Field” |
| November 15, 1915 | Wounded | Wounded G.S.W. left leg. Sent to No. 5 Canadian Field Ambulance. The War Diary makes no mention of any casualties that day. |
| November 16, 1915 | Admitted | Admitted No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station. |
| November 17, 1915 | Admitted | Admitted No. 13 General Hospital, Boulogne, France. Wound to the left leg. |
| November 24, 1915 | Admitted | Transported via Hospital Ship Cambria and admitted Manor House, Folkestone. |
| December 10, 1915 | Admitted | Admitted to Goodhunt Military Hospital, Shorncliffe, England. |
| 1916 | ||
| January 20, 1916 | Discharged | From same. |
| February 27, 1916 | Medical Board | Stands a Medical Board at Shorncliffe. He is considered healed and fit for duty from G.S.W. to his left leg. |
| August 11, 1916 | Attached | Attached from C.O.C. to C.A.I. & R.D. (Canadian Arms Inspection and Repair Department), 74 Tunnel Avenue, East Greenwich, England. |
| October 24, 1916 | Stuck Off Strength | S.O.S. from C.O.C to C.A.I. & R.D. (Canadian Arms Inspection and Repair Department), Ashford, England. |
| November 15, 1916 | Marriage Approved | |
| December 12, 1916 | Admitted | Royal Hebert Hospital, Woolwich. |
| December 21, 1916 | Discharged | Royal Hebert Hospital, Woolwich. |
| December 28, 1916 | Admitted | Royal Hebert Hospital, Woolwich. |
| December 30, 1916 | Discharged | Royal Hebert Hospital, Woolwich. |
| 1917 | ||
| January 25, 1917 | Admitted | Royal Hebert Hospital, Woolwich. |
| January 27, 1917 | Discharged | Royal Hebert Hospital, Woolwich. |
| February 16, 1917 | Admitted and Discharged | Royal Hebert Hospital, Woolwich. |
| April 20, 1917 | Struck Off Strength | S.O.S. C.O.C. to Western Ontario Regimental Depot (W.O.R.D.). |
| April 26, 1917 | Taken On Strength | T.O.S. with W.O.R.D. at Bramshott. |
| July 7, 1917 | Attached | Attached from W.O.R.D. to 2nd C.C.D., Hastings. |
| July 10, 1917 | On Command | On Command with W.O.R.D. at Bramshott. |
| July 10, 1917 | Attached | Attached 2nd C.C.D. (Canadian Convalescent Depot) |
| July 17, 1917 | Returned and T.O.S. | Ceases attach to 2nd C.C.D. and returned to 4th Reserve Battalion, Bramshott. |
| 1918 | ||
| April 5, 1918 | S.O.S. and Transferred | S.O.S. 4th Reserve Battalion and transferred to C.D.C., Ashford. |
| October 14, 1918 | Reported Sick | Essex County Hospital, Colchester, England. |
| November 12, 1918 | Princess Patricia Canadian Red Cross Hospital. | |
| November 20, 1917 | Attached | Attached from 4th Reserve Battalion to C.O.C. for trade test. Ashford. |
| December 7, 1917 | On Command | On command at Ordnance College, Woolwich. |
| April 5, 1918 | T.O.S. | T.O.S. with No. 1 Detachment, C.O.C. from 4th Reserve Battalion, Ashford. |
| May 2, 1918 | Qualified | “Qualified as Armament Artificer at Ordnance College, Woolwich. Will be in future be known as Armament Cpl.” |
| April 9, 1918 | Cease to be On Command | Ceased to be on command from the Ordnance College, Woolwich. |
| September 28, 1918 | S.O.S. | S.O.S. from No. 1 Detachment in preparation for proceeding overseas. To C.B.G.D. |
| October 5, 1918 | To and Arrives | To C.C.R.C. |
| October 10, 1918 | Admitted | Admitted to No. 9 Canadian Field Ambulance, bronchitis. |
| October 11, 1918 | Admitted | Admitted to No. 23 Casualty Clearing Station, bronchitis. |
| October 12, 1918 | Admitted | Admitted to No. 14 General Hospital, Wimereax. |
| October 18, 1918 | To England and TO.S. | Via. Hospital Ship St. Denis. T.O.S. C.O.C. Admitted to Essex County Hospital, Colchester. |
| October 18, 1918 | Discharged | |
| December 23, 1918 | On Command | On Command with 1st Canadian Convalescent Depot (C.C.D.), Buxton. |
| 1919 | ||
| January 24, 1919 | S.O.S. | S.O.S. to Canada. Embarked Liverpool. |
| February 4, 1919 | Posted | Posted to Casualty Company and granted furlough to February 18, 1919. |
| February 18, 1919 | Dental Exam | Dental exam in preparation for discharge. |
| February 22, 1919 | Discharged | Discharged at Military District No. 1, London, Ontario. |
[i] The Summary of Service for this soldier is meant as just that, a summary of his service. It is not intended to be an exhaustive biographical relation of his life or his war service. Some information may be deliberately suppressed by the author out of sensitivity to the soldier. Readers are encouraged to reference the actual service records available at the Library and Archives Canada in PDF format if they wish to learn more about this soldier. Such additional information (i.e. hyperlinks etc.) are for informational purpose only and no claim to verification or accuracy is made by the author of this summary.
Allen, Robert 53768
This is my grandfather. He was a machinist with the railway. I have a large wall picture of the whole 18th battalion. I have his medals and notes he made on his training.
Wendy,
Thank you so much for replying. Email coming shortly.
Eric