John Derwent Allen

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Vice-Admiral John Derwent Allen, C.B., A.D.C., R.N. (28 March, 1875 – 23 May, 1958) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Allen was born the son of Reverend E. Allen. He gained ten months' time on passing out of Britannia in July, 1890. He was first appointed to Anson, temporarily, for manoeuvres. On 6 September, 1890, he was appointed to Garnet, additional, for service in the Pacific.[1]

Allen was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 14 June, 1896.[2]

Mentioned in despatches for services during the Somaliland Expedition, 1903-04.[3]

Allen was promoted to the rank of Commander on 31 December, 1906.[4]

Allen was appointed in command of the yacht Enchantress on 10 November, 1913[5] and promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December.[6]

War Service

On 1 August, 1914 Allen was appointed to the Admiralty where one of his roles was to act for the Naval Secretary to the First Lord of the Admiralty.[7] He was appointed in command of the armoured cruiser Kent at the end of September. Allen was mentioned in despatches for his performance at the Battle of the Falkland Islands on 8 December, 1914 after Kent successfully overtook and sank the Nürnberg.

Allen was appointed in command of the armoured cruiser Antrim on 13 January, 1920.[8]

Allen was placed on the Retired List on 2 August, 1924. He offered to serve in 1939, and was politely refused.[9]

See Also

Service Records

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
John M. de Robeck
Captain of H.M. T.B. 86
24 Jul, 1895[10]
Succeeded by
Richard F. H. H. Mahon
Preceded by
Hubert Lynes
Captain of H.M.S. Enchantress
10 Nov, 1913[11] – 1 Aug, 1914[12]
Succeeded by
Henry G. Keenor
Preceded by
Allen T. Hunt
Captain of H.M.S. Kent
Sep, 1914[13] – 14 Sep, 1916[14]
Succeeded by
George Trewby
Preceded by
Charles E. Collins
Captain of Portsmouth Signal School
13 Sep, 1916[15] – 15 Nov, 1918
Succeeded by
Arthur K. Macrorie
Preceded by
Frederick L. Field
Superintendent of Signal Schools
13 Sep, 1916[16] – 14 Nov, 1918
Succeeded by
Arthur K. Macrorie
Preceded by
Robert L. Jermain
Captain of H.M.S. Roxburgh
12 Apr, 1919[17] – 13 Jan, 1920[18]
Succeeded by
?
Preceded by
Victor G. Gurner
Captain of H.M.S. Antrim
13 Jan, 1920[19][20] – 12 Apr, 1921[21]
Succeeded by
Raymond Fitzmaurice
Preceded by
Christopher R. Payne
Captain of H.M.S. Vernon
6 Apr, 1922[22] – 15 Jul, 1924[23]
Succeeded by
William R. Napier

Footnotes

  1. Allen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 44.
  2. Allen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 44.
  3. Allen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 44.
  4. Allen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 44.
  5. The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 309.
  6. Allen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44 f. 44.
  7. See Allen letter of 21 Sept. 1914. Hamilton Papers. National Maritime Museum. HTN/123.
  8. The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 726.
  9. Allen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 44.
  10. "The Naval Manoeuvres." The Times (London, England), July 19, 1895, Issue 34633, p.14.
  11. The Navy List. (April, 1914). p. 309.
  12. Allen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44 f. 44.
  13. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 395f.
  14. Ship's Logbook.
  15. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 398w.
  16. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 398w.
  17. Allen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44 f. 44.
  18. Allen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44 f. 44.
  19. "Naval Appointments." The Times (London, England), Thursday, January 15, 1920, Issue 42308, p.6.
  20. The Navy List. (December, 1920). p. 726.
  21. Allen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 44.
  22. Allen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 44.
  23. Allen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/44. f. 44.