20 Facts About Walter Allason

Brigadier General Walter Allason, was an award-winning swimmer, diver, and a senior officer of the British Army who distinguished himself in battle during the First World War.

Walter Allason was born in Paddington in London on 25 October 1875, the son of Elizabeth Thomazine nee Allen and Alfred Allason, a retired officer of the Royal Marines.

Walter Allason was the grandson of the architect Thomas Allason.

Walter Allason passed out of the Royal Military College at Sandhurst as a gentleman cadet, following which he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 4th Battalion, Manchester Regiment on 23 July 1894, and was promoted to lieutenant in 1896.

Walter Allason was transferred to the Bedfordshire Regiment as a second lieutenant on 9 December 1896 and was promoted back to lieutenant on 1 July 1898.

Walter Allason was promoted to major in October 1913 and was appointed second-in-command of the 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment when it was posted to France on 16 August 1914, at the start of the First World War.

Walter Allason was wounded in action and in 1915 was awarded his the Distinguished Service Order.

Walter Allason was wounded again on Hill 60 in April 1915 and after his recovery he was appointed to command the 8th Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, but rejoined the 1st Battalion for the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

Walter Allason was awarded a Bar to his DSO for the Somme, possibly as a result of the battalion's attack on Falfemont Farm in September 1916.

Walter Allason executed an attack with the greatest initiative and resource, thereby enabling a strong enemy position to be captured.

Walter Allason handled his battalion with great skill throughout the operations.

Walter Allason was wounded for a third time in December 1916 when, inspecting the trenches at the front line, he was accidentally shot by a young and jumpy subaltern.

The wound was serious enough for Walter Allason to be removed from duty, only able to return to the command of the 1st Battalion after the war.

In 1918, Walter Allason was promoted to temporary brigadier general in April 1918 and was appointed to command the 52nd Infantry Brigade, 17th Division, taking over from Brigadier General Archibald James Fergusson Eden after he was wounded.

Walter Allason was promoted to brigadier general and placed on the retired list on 25 October 1925 when he reached 50 years of age, the compulsory retirement age for officers.

On 18 August 1908, Captain Walter Allason married Katharine Hamilton Poland, the daughter of the retired Vice Admiral James Augustus Poland.

In 1911 he, his wife and daughter Dolores Celina Walter Allason were living at The Glen in Upper Hale in Farnham in Surrey.

In 1896,1897,1902,1908,1909 and 1922, Walter Allason won the English Plunging Championship and the Aldershot Command Officers' Challenge Cup in 1912.

In 1939, listed as a widower, Walter Allason was living at Brackley in Northamptonshire with his daughter.

Brigadier General Walter Allason died in London in January 1960, at the age of 84.