The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge. Beneath the main figures, the British lion defeats the German eagle. The initials 'ECP', for the designer Edward Carter Preston appear above the lion's right forepaw. A raised rectangle above the lion's head bears the name 'STEPHEN CHARLES ALLEN'.
Born in Sydney, New South Wales, Stephen Charles 'Steve' Allen was employed as a carter when he enlisted in the AIF on 18 July 1915, aged 23. His elder brother, Robert Beattie 'Bob' Allen had enlisted nine days earlier. After initial training both men were posted as privates to the 10th Reinforcements to the 13th Battalion, with consecutive service numbers - 3002 for Steve and 3003 for Bob. The brothers embarked from Sydney on 6 September aboard HMAT A70 Ballarat.
In Egypt they undertook further training before being formally taken on strength with 13th Battalion, where they joined A Company. Steve was nicknamed 'The Mascot' by his company on account of his short stature and cheerful nature. When the battalion arrived in France in June 1916 the Allen brothers had rarely been apart, separated only for brief periods of training.
On 14 August, while the battalion was in action near Mouquet Farm, the Allen brothers were part of a party of ten men from their company detailed to carry supplies to the front line. They had already made one successful trip down the communication trench known as Tom's Cut. As they neared the front line on their second trip a shell hit the parapet of the trench and exploded killing the Allen brothers, who had been walking one behind the other, outright. Another pair of brothers in the party were wounded, and a third man later died of his wounds. Owing to the crowding in the trench the Allens' bodies were lifted out of it and over the parapet. Their bodies were never recovered for burial and their names are commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.
This commemorative plaque was sent to Stephen's widowed mother, Hester, in April 1922.
Personal effects consisting of two purses, two coins and an identity disc. The larger black leather purse has a top flap retained by a single leather strap. Incorporated within the purse is smaller co
Personal effects consisting of two purses, two coins and an identity disc. The small, brown leather purse has a top flap and space to hold six coins. It contains an ancient Roman coin and an Egyptian
An Egyptian or Turkish coin dated '1325'. This coin was among the personal effects returned to the Allen family after the death of Stephen and his brother Robert Allen. Born at Balmain, NSW in 1893
Gold cotton sateen souvenir cushion cover with a 40 mm wide light blue cotton braid border. The cover is embroidered in machine chain stitch with the three pyramids in shades of brown and blue, and fi
Studio portrait of the Allen family of Manly, NSW. Identified seated centre is the widow, Mrs Hester Alice Allen (her husband John Thomas Allen died 7 October 1897) Hester is pictured with her childre
Personal effects consisting of two purses, two coins and an identity disc. The black purse contains an aluminium identity disc with the following engraved in cursive script on one side, '3002 S C Alle
Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge.
Studio portrait of the Allen family of Manly, NSW. Identified left to right: back row: Miss Florence Allen, Mrs Hester Alice Allen, Miss Minnie Allen; front row, seated: 3003 Private (Pte) Robert Beat
Informal portrait of 3003 Private Robert Beattie Allen, 3002 Private Stephen Charles Allen, 13th Battalion, and an unidentified serviceman, in a decorative paper frame. The two brothers were both kill
An ancient Roman coin. 3-4th century constatius? This coin was among the personal effects returned to the Allen family after the death of Stephen and his brother Robert Allen. Born at Balmain, NSW
Dark blue cotton sateen souvenir cushion cover with a 75mm deep mauve cotton braid and fringe border. The cover is embroidered in machine chain stitch with a yellow, red, green and white representatio
Square fringed damask weave silk scarf in red, emerald green and purple, with intergral silk fringe. The main body of the scarf is red with a central woven pattern of crescent shapes. Each corner bear
Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge.
Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge.
Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge.
Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge.
Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge.
Bronze next of kin plaque, showing on the obverse, Britannia holding a laurel wreath, the British lion, dolphins, a spray of oak leaves and the words 'HE DIED FOR FREEDOM AND HONOUR' around the edge.