The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
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 five date palms with brown trunks with green and pink fronds. Above, in purple, is 'Piramid [sic] of Egypt 1915'. Beneath is a spray of flowers and leaves in pink, blue and green' with 'To Minnie from Bob and Steve' in purple.
Souvenir of Egypt sent home to Miss Minnie Allen by her brothers, 3002 Private Stephen Charles and 3003 Private Robert Beattie Allen enlisted in the AIF on 18 July 1915.
They were allocated to the 10th Reinforcements to the 13th Battalion and embarked from Sydney on board A70 HMAT Ballarat on 6 September 1915. They joined their battalion in Egypt in February 1916 and later went to France. The brothers spent most of their service together until they were both killed on 14 August 1916, when the 13th Battalion was engaged in the heavy fighting for Mouquet Farm near Pozieres.
Stephen and Robert Allen were together on a fatigue party, carrying supplies to their battalion, when they were killed by the same artillery shell during a heavy German barrage. Stephen was 24 years old. Robert was 27.
As the family did not have a great deal of money, Stephen and Robert would pitch in together to by presents for their sisters and mother. The cotton sateen "Souvenir of Egypt" cushion covers were very popular as they could be personalised and easily sent home.
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
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.
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
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
Gold cotton sateen souvenir cushion cover with a blue cotton fringe and unbleached calico backing. The sateen is painted in red, green, brown and blue, with added details in blue, white and red machin
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
Ivory cotton sateen souvenir cushion cover, with an ivory polished cotton fringe. The cover bears a stencilled design of a wreath of fuchsia pink and orange coloured flowers, and leaves, tied with a g
Cream cotton sateen cushion cover with a gold cotton sateen back that is open at one end to allow a cushion to be inserted. The centre of the cover is embroidered in red 'SOUVENIR From the WAR'. Each
Yellow cotton sateen machine embroidered souvenir of Palestine cushion with blue cotton fringe. In the centre of the cushion is an embroidered Rising Sun badge in white, red and mauve thread in a chai
