More about Martin Henderson Allan

Martin Henderson Allan   5862A   Royal Naval Reserve

ALLAN―At Hamburg, Germany, on 4th November, 1918, of influenza, after four years’ imprisonment, Martin Henderson, R.N.R., aged 30 years, third son of Mr and Mrs T. Allan, 176 Ferry Road, Dundee.

Dundee People’s Journal 11th January 191

Martin H Allan was the son of Mr Thomas and Mrs Agnes Allan of 176 Ferry Road, Dundee. On the outbreak of war he volunteered to join the Royal Naval Reserve at the Customs House, Dundee on 15 August 1914, aged 25, and was sent to HMS Victory, the Naval Barracks in Portsmouth. From here he was drafted into the Hawke Battalion of the Royal Naval Division, made up of surplus Royal Navy and Royal Marine personnel formed initially to be landed to capture or defend Naval Bases. Whilst the RND was being trained the war situation in France became critical and the RND was sent to Antwerp to help the Belgian Army defend the city. After two days the RND was in danger of being cut off and was ordered to withdraw but the order did not reach all the battalions in time. Most of the Hawke Battalion men were captured by the Germans or were interned in neutral Holland. Martin Allan wounded in action at Antwerp and captured by the Germans. He died at Reserve Hospital III, Hamburg from influenza whilst in captivity and a week before the Armistice was signed. He is buried in the Hamburg Cemetery, grave reference 1.B.4. Dundee City Archives hold the Dundee RNR joining records for the city.