Description
Unusual Kent Father & Son medals with differing family names.
Volunteer Long Service Medal (EVII) named to 3286 PTE. T. OFFEN. 1 / V.B. E. KENT. R. . Thomas Offen
Great War medal pair named to 189736 SP. C. L. ALLEN. R.E. mounted as worn on a bar with Defence Medal.
Cecil Leslie Allen, born Ashford, Kent, served in the Railway Operating Division and papers reveal he was a “superior” Engine Driver who had joined for duty at LONGMOOR camp, Hampshire. and he was 24 years old when he attested 1915. He was mobilized August 1916. Medal Index Card confirms the WW1 pair to Cecil L. Allen who was re-numbered WP/258231. His address is given as The Royal Oak, Bearsted, Kent. Next of Kin being named as Thomas Offen (see below)
The attestation papers of Cecil Leslie confirm that he had previously served as Private 5th Bn The Buffs in the name of OFFEN.
Born in 1891 in Ashford, Kent, his father, Thomas, was 27 and his mother, Elizabeth, was 26. He married Thorold Ruby Wissenden in January 1923 in Kent. They had one child during their marriage. He died in January 1974 in Worthing, Norfolk, at the age of 83, and was buried in Lancing, Sussex.
Father Thomas was born in 1864 in Kent. He married Elizabeth Marshall in January 1889 in West Ashford, Devon. They had eight children in 19 years. He died in January 1937 in Worthing, West Susse, at the age of 73.
