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Allen, William Ernest Chesney

Date of birth:
April 5th, 1894 (Brighton/Sussex, United Kingdom)
Date of death:
November 13th, 1982 (Midhurst/West Sussex, United Kingdom)
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

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War Diary mentions

30-31 August 1944 WO 171/413 - 3 Infantry Division AQ
Star ENSA Concert 1500 and 1900 hrs at FLERS starring Flanaghan and Allan, Kay Cavendish and Florence Desmond.

1-2 September 1944 WO 171/413 - 3 Infantry Division AQ
Star ENSA shows at FLERS for Div featuring Flanagan and Allen, Florence Desmond, Kay Cavendish, Sandy Powell, Alice Powell and Billy Scott Coombs. Approx. 17.000 soldiers received entertainment during the past week. These ENSA performances were very well received but considerable diffeculty is still expierenced feeding. ENSA parties - in practice this often means that the complete resources of an officers 'mess have to be devoted to them. This is most unsatisfactory

2 September 1944 WO 171/617 - 9 Infantry Brigade
The remainder of the day was spent in preparation for the early move tomorrow morning. A feature of our stay in the FLERS area has been the sterling quality of entertainment provided for the men. Stars of the film and variety world such as Flanagen & Allen, Kay Cavendish, Florence Desmond all having contributed. The weather has been foul to the extreme for the past day or two. In such circumstances the need for an issue, to all ranks, of bivouacs small seems a necessity, the innovation of which would solve many billeting problems in these sparsely housed agricultural areas.

5 September 1944 WO 171/1394 - 4 Wiltshire Regiment
Normal trg carried out under coy arrangements. ENSA show held at GASNY (R 57) artistes incl Flanagan and Allen, and Florence Desmond.

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