James's Story.
Private James Allen, from the 2nd Btn Cheshire Regiment, drowned at Krugersdorp, near Johannesburg, on 31st December 1901. He is remembered on the Cheshire Regiment Memorial in Chester Cathedral, his name inscribed alongside that of Private John Allen 4079 who died in 1900. James, who came from Leicester, is buried in Burgershoop Cemetery, Krugersdorp.
Chester Cathedral memorial
What do we know about James?
He was born in Leicester, the son of James Allen. From the Army Record of Deceased Soldiers' Effects, we can tell that he enlisted into the army on 5th June 1900, at Leicester, and died 18 months later.
We know that Private J Allen 6327's first name was James, because his full name appears on the Cheshire Regiments Medal List of 1901:
Researched by S. Lewington (July 2025)