Death & burial
Died at Canterbury on 28th of May 1884.
Death registered
Thomas Allen, aged 65 years, June Quarter 1884, Canterbury.
Enquiry of the Kent and Canterbury Hospital shows that Thomas Allen was admitted there on the 9th of May and died there on the 28th of May 1884. Unfortunately the In-Patients Records were destroyed by fire (pre-1965), but this information was recorded in the "Weekly Report" of the Hospital, and has survived.
From the Army and Navy Gazette, June 1884:
"17th Lancers — "Thomas Allen of this regiment died in the Kent and Canterbury Hospital in June of 1884. He was in the Charge at Balaclava."
Extract from The Globe, 7th of June 1884:
"Death of a Balaclava Hero — There died in the Kent and Canterbury Hospital on Wednesday night a military veteran who took part in the memorable charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava. Thomas Allen, who at the time of his decease was 65 [sic] years of age, was one of a family of sixteen, his father being Mr. Thomas Allen, of North Street, a black-smith.
Two of his brothers also adopted the profession of arms, and one of them, belonging to the 47th Regiment, had his arm shot away at the Alma, an injury from which he subsequently died at Quebec, Canada.
The other brother also subsequently joined the 13th Hussars, but is now a missionary in Canada.
Although there are several men with the surname Allen who served during the Crimean period in the 13th LD, none could possibly be his brother. However, a "John Allen" of the 47th Foot is indeed shown in the casualty lists as having been wounded at the battle of the Alma.
The deceased had taken part in the three engagements of Alma, Inkerman and Balaclava, in the course of which he sustained several wounds, including the dislocation of a hip by his horse being shot under him.
[He was not listed in the London Gazette "Casualty Returns".]
Being disabled, he was discharged with a pension of 10d. per day. He was in possession of the Crimean medal with four clasps.
Deceased had of late years followed the occupation of a fly-driver and lived for a long time in Herne Bay. He was for some time at one period lying in the West Kent Hospital at Maidstone, with fractured ribs and thighs, caused by an accident.
The Veteran's Funeral — The funeral of the deceased took place on Monday in St. Martin's churchyard at Canterbury."
According to The Globe, in a note in "Bye the Way":
"At the close of the campaign Allen had been discharged from the service with a pension of 6d. per day for two years, had been in great poverty, and had died in the County Hospital. This seems a poor reward for his share in a memorable act of English heroism. By the way in which we treat our heroes — as witness the 'Iron Duke's' dishonour — and makes payment to the Sudanese troops in lieu of thanks, makes it doubtful whether Thomas Allen would now-a-days be as well off."
Note: The reference to the Iron Duke and his "dishonour" is to the removal in 1883 of an equestrian statue of Wellington that originally surmounted the Constitution Hill Arch in London. The intention had been to melt the statue down for the bronze, but as it was found to contain more iron than bronze it was not considered worthwhile and it was purchased by public subscription and re-erected at Aldershot. It was replaced in 1912 with Winged Victory with chariot and horses.
