Searching for a secret marriage in France - early 1900s

[ruthruss]

Hello there, I am searching for the first wife (I believe she was French) of my ancestor William Ruskin Allen (b. 1895 in Berkshire, England). The only lead I have is the summary of a letter written by William Allen's father John, to William's wife, when William was taken prisoner in World War 1. The letter was donated to the Imperial War Museum and they then lost it (only the summary remains, which does not name William's wife).

William lived in France (mostly Paris) between 1912 and 1917, so if the woman he married was French, it would be during that time. He did not marry in England. After being repatriated at the end of the war, William returned to England, and later married a woman in Ghana. His children from that marriage know nothing about a first wife and deny her existence.

Any help would be so appreciated. I have been searching for her for many years.

Here is the link to the letter summary: https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1030007705

[ShaunJ]

German POW records list his next of kin as his father J W Allen. No mention of a spouse.

There's a Red Cross missing soldier search enquiry for Capt. William Ruskin Allen from Margaret Drinkwater, Allendune, Blakeney, Norfolk. When he was traced to a PoW camp she was informed by telephone. That would be his sister, I think.

[ruthruss]

German POW records list his next of kin as his father J W Allen. No mention of a spouse.

There's a Red Cross missing soldier search enquiry for Capt. William Ruskin Allen from Margaret Drinkwater, Allendune, Blakeney, Norfolk. When he was traced to a PoW camp she was informed by telephone. That would be his sister, I think.

You are correct, Margaret was his sister.

[trish1120]

I see on his M/C to Joan he says he is a Bachelor.
Maybe he never married the French Woman.

Trish

[mckha489]

Deleted. Red boxed

[ruthruss]

I see on his M/C to Joan he says he is a Bachelor.
Maybe he never married the French Woman.

Trish

This is definitely possible, however I am slightly hesitant to believe the "bachelor", as his brother Jack listed himself as a "widow" on his M/C to his second wife, when in actual fact he was divorced! If one brother did such a thing, perhaps two did.

[ShaunJ]

William lived in France (mostly Paris) between 1912 and 1917

He was commissioned in the British Army in September 1914

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28899/page/7222

[joger]

Do you know where he lived in Paris?
Do you know which are the other places he lived in?

[TreeSpirit]

My personal summary:
- I’ve checked the 20 Parisien 10-year marriage indices 1913-1922: nothing found
- His possible wife is not listed as his contact when he’s a prisoner of war in 1918: https://grandeguerre.icrc.org/en/List/791739/698/29571/
- He’s listed as a bachelor when he marries in 1931