A colleague of a colleague of a kind friend was able to get these current (2022) pictures of Ralph Allen's grave and the surrounding area in the Tobruk War Cemetery in Libya.

High compliments and deep appreciation to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for the consistent and quality care given to such cemeteries.

Thank you.

 

This birdbath memorial  was first erected at Ralph's parent's home in Manubi. When his widowed mother, Marguerite, moved to Kentani to live with her daughter, Peggy Smailes, Ralph's sister, it was moved and positioned outside her bedroom window. Meg died in 1975 and her name was also engraved in the granite. In the 1980's, the Smailes' moved to live together with Noel and Daphne Allen and Philip Allen on a farm holding West of Stutterheim. The monument was moved with them and Ralph's siblings, Peggy, Philip and Noel were together until both Peggy and Philip died. Noel and Daphne later moved to Sedgefield where they passed away in 2009 and 2010, respectively. The monument was left on the Stutterheim district farm...

The broader side of the stone records the deaths of Augusta and Samuel Allen (Ralph's grandparents), and Edwin and Meg Allen, his father and mother.

The main street through the Eastern Cape town of Butterworth, Transkei, has a cenotaph commemorating world war fallen, including Ralph Allen

Ralph Allen's name with others commemorated on the cenotaph in Butterworth

The bird bath memorial:

Ralph Allen

25 years of age

Tobruk

November 27th, 1941

This memorial was so positioned that it could be seed from the bedroom windows of both Edwin and Marguerite Allen (Ralph's parents) and the family dining room window.



Personal effects!

Condolences from His Majesty...

X2514 Private Ralph Allen

Died 28 November 1941

Burial notice

Casualty notice

Edwin Allen, Ralph's father

Ralph Allen

2766211 Private Ralph Allen, 2nd Battalion, Black Watch, Tobruk, North Africa

Callup - transport instructions

Ralph Allen and mother, Marguerite Allen (nee West).