Cpl. William Wilson Allen (1240 B Co. 24th. Regiment)

Despite severe wounds, he and Hitch kept communication with the hospital open, enabling the patients to be withdrawn. When his own wounds had been dressed, he continued serving out ammunition to his comrades throughout the night. He was aged 35 at the time of the defence.


Said to have been born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, but we now know he was born in a little village south of Berwick-on-Tweed in Northumberland. Enlisted at York in October 1859 aged 15 years.
He was Assistant Schoolmaster as a Corporal in Brecon Barracks in 1876 when he married a local girl - Sarah Ann Reeves in August 1876; they had a family of seven children. Wounded in the left shoulder at Rorke's Drift. He received his Victoria Cross from Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on 9 Decembe 1879.
Later he served as a Sergeant Instructor with the 3rd Militia Battalion in Brecon and the 4th Volunteer Battalion in Monmouth. Sgt Allen died still serving in Monmouth. A fund was set up to look after his widow and children. (His VC is in the SWB Museum Collection)