b. 4th Quarter 1874 South Shields, Tyne and Wear. d. 29/12/1936 South Shields, Tyne and Wear.
DATE OF AM ACTION: 19/06/1918 North Sea.
John T Allan AM
John was born in the autumn of 1874 in South Shields, the son of a Master Mariner. On the outbreak of World War I, he served with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary aboard the RFA “Mixol”. He survived the war and left the “Mixol” to serve on HMS Eaglet in Liverpool on 10th August 1919. He married Selina and they lived at 546 Williamson Street in South Shields. He died in 1936 and was buried in an unmarked grave in Harton Cemetery in South Shields.
AM CITATION:
As the R.F.A. “Mixol” was dropping alongside to fuel one of H.M. Battle Cruisers on the 19th June 1918, an Able Seaman slipped and fell overboard between “Mixol” and the Cruiser; “Mixol” was only about ten feet clear of the Cruiser, and was closing at the time. Donkeyman John Allan, who was standing on the fore well deck of ” Mixol,” saw the man fall and that he was struggling in the water. Although it was clear that the man in the water was in imminent danger of being crushed between the two ships, Allan at once jumped overboard in the clothes he was wearing to save him. He assisted the Able Seaman to. keep afloat until a rope was thrown, which he gave to him, the Able Seaman being hauled on board before Allan took the rope himself. The ship was in an open anchorage, and the temperature of the water was 50°.
BURIAL LOCATION: HARTON CEMETERY, SOUTH SHIELDS, TYNE AND WEAR.
UNMARKED GRAVE. GRAVE 10708.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: PRIVATELY HELD. SOLD AT DIX NOONAN WEBB ON 12/11/2020 FOR £5,000.
Acknowledgements:
Allan Stanistreet – Image of John Allan AM.
Dix Noonan Webb – Image of Allan AM medal group.