Lt. James Bedford Allen, was born in Stratford, Ontario, on September 2nd, 1885. Working as an advertising manager James was also an active member of the 36th Peel and 28th Perth Regiments. Having soldiered as a Private for a year he had been granted his commission and had served three years as a Lieutenant prior to War being declared.

James would initially enlist with the 126th Battalion C.E.F. on December 6th, 1915, and on February 11th, 1916, he was transferred to the 198th Battalion. On December 1st, 1916, the 31 year old would be transferred to the newly formed 248th Battalion C.E.F. as a Captain.

Billeted locally over the winter, Captain Allen would revert to the rank of Lieutenant in order to proceed overseas. Sailing with the unit in June of 1917, the 248th Battalion was absorbed into the 8th Reserve Battalion once they arrived in England.

James was taken on strength with the 4th C.M.R. on November 9th, 1917, as part of a reinforcement draft, after the Battle of Passchendaele. He saw service with the 4th C.M.R. during the winter of 1917 and the spring offensive of 1918.

During 14 days leave in August of 1918, and whilst he was in England, he was granted permission to marry his fiancée Bessie Nicholls.

James returned to the front at the end of August and served with the 4th C.M.R until the end of the war. He would be granted another period of leave after the armistice and would not return. While in England Lieutenant Allan would undergo a medical review board due to a respiratory condition he developed in the extreme weather conditions and exposure to gas that he had served through. Diagnosed with chronic hypertrophic rhinitis James was found fit for home service and was posted to the 1st Central Ontario Regiment Depot in January of 1919.

Lieutenant James Bedford Allan was struck off strength of the 4th C.M.R. on June 1st, 1919. He lived a full life and passed away in November 1975.

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Biography credit: George Auer