Robert Henry Allen
Robert was born on September 23, 1911, and went on to have along areer in the navy. He first sailed on the battleship HMS Queen Elizabeth in the Mediterranean from September 1, 1930 to January 1932 as a midshipman. He attended a promotion courses at RN College, Greenwich (HMS President) from May 1, 1932 to January 8, 1933 and at Portsmouth (HMS Victory) from January 9, 1933 to June 1933 by which time he was a Sub Lieutenant.
He then joined HMS Cherwell, a fishery protection gunboat, from August 29, 1933 to January 1934. HMS Courageous, a Home Fleet aircraft carrier from July 9, 1934 from July 1935. The repair ship HMS Resource from October 1935 to February 1936 in the Mediterranean as Payment Lieutennt.
He joined the cruiser HMS Exteter on May 23, 1936 and stayed with her on the America and West Indies Station until April 1940. He was on the minelayer HMS Abdiel from August 20, 1940 to August 1942 as Payment Lieutennt Commander. The cruiser HMNZS Achilles from February 1943 to October 1943, when he joined HMNZS Gambia from December 22, 1943 to April 1946.
After the war he was on HMS Sussex as part of the Supply and Secretariat Branch from August 29, 1946 to July 1948 as Commander (Staff). HMS Defiance from June 28, 1949 to May 1950. He then served on the RN Air Station, Abbotsinch, Paisley, Scotland, HMS Sanderling from May 4, 1951 to May 1953. HMS Theseus from July 1, 1954 to January 1956 and finally HMS Pembroke from July 1961 to February 1969.
Robert was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) on August 11, 1960. Robert passed away on January 16, 1983 at Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.