5
« on: Sunday 08 September 24 12:44 BST (UK) »
I feel that I have exhausted all avenues for George Frederick Allen so thought I would post on here as a last chance! My Mum's Uncle George Frederick Allen was born on 27th February 1901 at 1 Clinton Road, Mile End Old Town, London. George was the second child of Frederick Allen, a hairdresser, and Rose Allen (nee Halpin). In 1907 George's father, Frederick Allen, went into the workhouse deemed insane and sent to Long Grove Asylum and lived there until his death. Later that year George and his 3 siblings were placed in a Scattered Home in the Area, presumably because their Mother could not afford to look after them. George left the scattered home at the age of 15 and was apprenticed to Mr Lee, 126 Acre Road, Kingson upon Thames. Mr Lee was a Saddle and Harness Maker and this was George's apprenticeship. I have been to the London Metropolitan Archives who hold brief records on his scattered home admittance etc and his apprenticeship to Mr Lee. We know that the Indenture of Apprenticeship was signed on 27th December 1916 but began on 5th May 1916 and was supposed to be a 4 year apprenticeship. On 28th March 1918 the Mile End Guardians wrote to George's Mother complaining of her interference with her son so he was still doing his apprenticeship then. The next record we can find of George Allen is on his Mother's admittance to the Workhouse in St Marylebone and her subsequent admittal to Long Grove Asylum in 1924. Here it states that George is dead. I have searched all the death records for the time between 1918 and 1924. There are 2 deaths, one for a George Allen who died on 24th December 1923, aged 22 (this would be his correct age) in the War Memorial Hospital in High Wycombe of Pneumonia and cardiac failure. At first I thought this was our George Allen as he was a Machinist at a Chair Manufacturer in High Wycombe and could link in to stitching for harness making etc. This George left money but no family could be found to pass it on to so it went to the Government. However, we then found a death for a George Allen age 20 years on 18th January 1923 at Earls Court Station. This George appears to have committed suicide by diving in front of a train. There are numerous newspaper reports of this and I have attached one. George's employer gave evidence at the inquest. He said George had been working for him as a Potman for 3 months at 1 Amherst Road, Hackney and George went out and never returned but he didn't know if he had any family. In the 1921 census George's sisters lived in Hendon Lane, N3 about 8 miles from here . George's mother worked at Jermyn street which is 3 miles from Earls Court so could he have visited her and then committed suicide. It seems, however, that George's family did eventually learn of his death - BUT which death was it? We can't locate George in the 1921 census as a Potman, Harness or saddle maker or a record that proves it is him. There is one George Allen in Ireland in the Army. My Mum knew that her Dad, Albert Allen, had one sister, and not that he was one of 4 children and we wonder if this was because of the perceived 'shame' at the time. George's other sister committed suicide in 1927 by putting her head in a Gas Oven. George's Mother's family had a history of mental illness so it is possible that the second death is more likely. I would, however, like confirmation. I have learnt that his inquest report doesn't exist. However, the newspaper reports give a lot of information but no information from the police. I have contacted the British Transport Police History Group and they made several suggestions including contacting the Metropolitan Police but I have had no luck. I went to the National Archives yesterday to look at The metropolitan police: general registry: registers of murders and deaths by violence but it only included deaths by murder. Any suggestions would be gratefully received but it could be that we will never know ...