Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Clayton a shoe trade laster, born 1865 in Colsterworth, Lincs., and his wife Kate Maud, born 1874 in Leicester. William Allen was born in 1895 in Leicester, he had one sibling, a sister Gladys, born 1899 in Leicester, in March 1901 the family home was at 30, Twycross Street, Leicester. In April 1911 William was employed as a shop assistant and was residing in the family home at 34, Woodland Road, Leicester, together with his parents and sister Gladys. The War Diary for today records. MORY. At 5.00am message received from Brigade to “stand to” very heavy artillery fire all round. Bombs, small arms ammunition and flares were issued. At 6.00am moved to point of assembly at B.17d. Stayed at assembly point. Misty morning. All wires cut to front line, no new available, at 10.00am the silent guns opened for SOS. 12.00 noon. Ordered to take up position in support line 2nd system. Moved up in artillery formation and avoided German barrage. A Company leading before reaching objective came under heavy machine gun fire, and saw several thousand Germans advancing from ECOUST. A Company extended and covered remainder of Battalion whilst taking up a position in firing line 3rd system. 2.30pm Battalion in position in touch on right with LINCOLNSHIRE REGT, but left flank in the air. LINCOLNSHIRE REGT only spitlocked and men dug in. Germans seen in masses 800 yards away and gradually working closer. 4.00pm. Hostile attack in strength developed along HOGS BACK on our left. 5.00pm. Reinforcements filled gap. Germans ceased to advance. Battalion suffered about 30 casualties. Lt. ORSON killed, Lt’s BERRIDGE and ORCHARD wounded. Artillery fire was not heavy all day. 11.00pm. Captain WILLIAMS patrol captured a German RAMC officer and 4 men. The Battalion having been in the line 24 days and worked continuously during that time, all ranks were tired and badly in need of sleep. Night quiet and very cold.