Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Taylor Allen a domestic groom, born 15th February 1850 in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire and his wife Mary Allen (nee Green, married on the 27th October 1872 in the Parish Church, Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicestershire), a hosiery trade seamer, born 1847 in Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicestershire. Frederick James was born in in the 1st quarter of 1879 in Kibworth Beauchamp and was baptised on the 13th July 1879 in the Parish Church, Kibworth Beauchamp, his siblings were Eliza Green, a hosiery trade seamer, born in the 4th quarter of 1867 and baptised on the 3rd October 1870 in the Parish Church, Kibworth Beaucamp, William Taylor, a schoolboy, born 8th June 1873 and baptised on the 1st March 1874 in the Parish Church, Kibworth Beauchamp, Rose, a schoolgirl, born 5th October 1874 and baptised on the 28th March 1875 in the Parish Church, Kibworth Beauchamp, George Thomas, a schoolboy, born 23rd February 1876 and baptised on the 21st May 1876 in the Parish Church, Kibworth Beauchamp and Emma Matilda, born 1882 and baptised on the 27th August 1882 in the Parish Church, Kibworth Beauchamp, all his siblings were born in Kibworth Beauchamp, in April 1881 the family home was in Kibworth Beauchamp. In April 1891 Frederick was employed as a shoe trade riveter and was residing in the family home at Harrington Street, Belgrave, Leicester, together with his father, a groom, his mother and siblings, Eliza, a tailoress, William, a shoe trade riveter, Rose, a tailoress, George, a shoe trade finisher, Emma, a schoolgirl, Kate Elizabeth, a schoolgirl, born 1885 and baptised on the 16th August 1885 in the Parish Church, Kibworth Beauchamp in Kibworth Beauchamp, Florence Annie, born 1887 and Alfred Henry, born 5th November 1889, the latter two siblings were both born in Belgrave. In March 1901 Frederick was employed as a shoe trade riveter and was residing in the family home at 192, Birstall Street, Leicester, together with his father, a horse breaker, his mother and siblings, Kate, a shoe trade machinist, Florence, a shoe trade fitter and Alfred. Frederick’s father died aged 60 in September 1910in Leicester. In April 1911 Frederick was employed as a shoe trade riveter and was residing in the family home at 16, Brierley Street, Leicester, together with his widowed mother. Frederick married sometime after 1911, but no information relating to the marriage could be found, the ledger of Soldier’s Effects records his sole legatee as his widow, Minnie Bowers.
Frederick’s Army enlistment documents do not survive, all that is known of his military service is that he enlisted into the Northumberland Fusiliers, being allotted the service number 7793 with the rank of Private. He was subsequently posted to the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers and with this unit he first entered the theatre of war in France on the 2nd November 1914, where he was wounded in action and was transferred to the North Evington War Hospital in Leicester, where he died on the 30th June 1915. Frederick would have been a serving soldier prior to the outbreak of war to have joined the British Expeditionary Force in France in early November 1914. He was awarded the 1914 STAR, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
On Friday 2nd July 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “DEATH OF LEICESTER SOLDIER AT EVINGTON HOSPITAL.” – WOUNDED TWICE. – The death occurred on Tuesday at Evington Infirmary of Private F. Allen, Northumberland Fusiliers, who was suffering from shrapnel wounds received ay Ypres on the 16th June. Private Allen had been twice wounded, his first injuries having been received in the early part of the war. He was 34 years of age, and had been 16 years in the army. Two brothers and a nephew are in the service. His mother lives at 10, Oban-street, and his widow at Portsea.
On Saturday 3rd July 1915 The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “Military Funeral at Leicester.” – The funeral of Private F. Allen, Northumberland Fusiliers, son of Mrs. Allen, 10, Oban-street, who died at the North Evington War Hospital, on Tuesday from shrapnel wounds received at Ypres, on the 16th June, took place at the Welford-road Cemetery, yesterday morning. The coffin, which was covered with a Union Jack, was placed on a carriage drawn by a number of R.A.M.C. men, and a firing party composed of about twelve soldiers of the 1st and 2nd Leicester’s, who have recovered from their wounds, was in attendance under the command of Colour Sergeant Hill. Three volleys were fired over the grave, and two buglers from the R.A.M.C. sounded the “Last Post.”