Norman Frederick Allen was born on 14th September 1890 in Twickenham, Middlesex, England, the son of Frederick and Susan Gray Allen (née Wiltshire). The family home was at 5, Victoria Terrace, Western Road, Hurstpierpoint, Sussex, and for many years Norman worked in a garden nursery. He was one of two children, having a younger sister named Gladys Gray Allen.
The family had previously resided at 12. Plevna Villas, Barnsfield Road, Twickenham, and 19. Meteor Street, Battersea, London, and Blossom Well Cottages, Langton Lane, Hurstpierpoint, Sussex. By 1915, Norman’s father, who was a book keeper and manager of a furniture shop, was deceased.
Norman engaged as a second class waiter in the Stewards Department on board the Lusitania at Liverpool, at a monthly rate of pay of £4-5s-0d., (£4.25p.). He reported for duty on the early morning of 17th April 1915 before she left Liverpool Pierhead for the very last time and one week later, he arrived safely at her New York destination.
He was still serving in the same capacity when the liner began the return leg of her voyage to Liverpool on the early afternoon of 1st May 1915 and he was killed when she was torpedoed and sunk just three weeks later on the afternoon of 7th May, off the Old Head of Kinsale in southern Ireland, by the German submarine U-20. His body was never found, or if it was, never identified. Norman Allen was aged 24 years.
He is commemorated on the Mercantile Marine Memorial at Tower Hill, London.
The Liverpool and London War Risks Insurance Association Limited granted a yearly pension to Susan Allen to compensate her for the loss of her son which amounted to £13-17s-11d. (£13.89p.) which was payable at the rate of £1-3s-2d. (£1.16p.) per month.
Register of Births, Marriages and Deaths, Surrey Baptisms 1887 – 1898, 1891 Census of England, 1901 Census of England, 1911 Census of England, Cunard Records, Commonwealth War Graves Commission, London England School Admissions and Discharges 1840 – 1911, PRO BT 334, UniLiv. PR. 13/24, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Graham Maddocks, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly
Revised & Updated – 1st December 2022.