Charles Allen

Charles was born in Longford, on the 6 December 1877 in Longford. He married Lizzie Meehan on the 31 October 1896. Their eldest son, Charles was born in 1897. He sadly passed away in 1912. Prior to World War 1 Charles was a mason, employed by the Midland & Great Western Railway (MGWR), who noted he was experienced with concrete.

Charles enlisted for war service with the Royal Engineers at on the 18 May 1915 in Longford, although it may be noted that he gave his year of marriage as 1900.

Charles entered the war in France on the 29 Jul 1916, during the Battle of the Somme. He was taken as a prisoner-of-war at Messines on the 10 April 1918, and was confirmed as a POW by his wife, Lizzie, to the Army stating that she had received a letter from him in May. He was interned at the Freidrichsfeld camp with many other men captured around that time., and remained in captivity until the war ended. Interestingly, he gave his date of birth as 22 November 1891, which was similar to his children's ages. Charles was originally repatriated to Leith, Scotland in December 1918, and discharged due to medical disability attributed to his service in March 1919.

After the war, Charles returned to Longford, and was active in the Exservicemen's Association. It is believed that he died in 1936 and is buried in Ballymacormack Cemetery. 

Link to Civil Record of Marriage; (ensure link ends in .pdf_ link to Attestment and Army records (Fold3.com, a paid subscription site); Link to Red Cross POW records (PA37263); Link to Civil Record of Death; Link to notice of Death, Longford Leader Sept 1936; link to German language blog post on Freidrichsfeld camp with images;&nb