Bull Allen (soldier)
Leslie Allen | |
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Second World War
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Awards | Military Medal Silver Star (United States) |
Leslie Charles (Clarence) Allen,
Early life
Allen was born on 9 November 1916 in Ballarat East, Victoria, the second son of Clarance Walter Allen, a labourer, and his wife Ruby Ethel née Robertson.[1] After an early childhood involving domestic violence, Allen, his brother, and his sister were abandoned, then raised in an orphanage.[1] From around 12 years of age, Allen started work, usually as a labourer on farms.[1]
Military career
Allen enlisted in the Second Australian Imperial Force on 19 April 1940.[1] As a stretcher-bearer destined for the 2/5th Battalion, Allen left for the Middle East in September 1940. He was nicknamed "Bull" for the way he charged through the opposition when playing with the battalion in Australian rules football.[1]
Allen saw action in the
After serving in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) Allen's battalion returned to Australia in August 1942, then in October sailing for Papua.[1] Allen rescued wounded soldiers under fire around Crystal Creek on the 7 and 8 February 1943 for which he was awarded the Military Medal.[1] On 30 July 1943, at Mount Tambu, Allen safely rescued twelve United States soldiers[2] and was later awarded the Silver Star—the citation stating: "Private Allen’s bearing and his untiring efforts in tending the wounded and helping with rations and stores were an inspiration".[1] Allen returned to Australia in September 1943, his behaviour becoming unstable; in February, he assaulted an officer and was demoted.[1] He was medically discharged on 10 September 1944.[1]
Later life
Temporarily losing the power of speech, Allen lived with an uncle while recovering. He married in 1949 and worked as a labourer and at the Ballarat Base Hospital as a medical orderly. Allen also worked at Sovereign Hill demonstrating a horse-drawn Chilean quartz-crushing mill for tourists.[1]
Allen died on 11 May 1982 at Sovereign Hill of diabetes and a heart attack.[1]
Legacy
Swedish power metal band Sabaton wrote the song "The Ballad Of Bull" about Allen for their 2014 album Heroes.[3]
See also
References
- ^ ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
- ^ "'Bull' Allen". Australian Government, Dept. of Veteran's Affairs. Archived from the original on 15 March 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
- ^ "The Ballad Of Bull - Lyrics". Sabaton Official Website.
External links
- Bull Allen – Culture Victoria
- Bull Allen MM USS Kokoda Historical – Kokoda Track