The Collection of Medals Formed by Bill and Angela Strong

An impressive Second World War O.B.E., Great War M.M. group of eleven awarded to Wing Commander D. F. Allen, Royal Air Force, late Royal Engineers

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 2nd type breast badge, silver-gilt; Military Medal, G.V.R. (); 1914-15 Star (44727 Spr. D. Allen, R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (44727 Spr. D. Allen, R.E.); 1939-45 Star; Burma Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, M.I.D. oak leaf; Coronation 1937; Royal Air Force L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., coinage bust (349524 Sgt. D. F. Allen, R.A.F.), this last with minor official correction to number), the M.M. and Great War trio heavily polished, thus fine, the remainder very fine or better (11) £600-800

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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O.B.E. London Gazette 14 June 1945: The original recommendation states:

‘Wing Commander Allen served as Base Accountant Officer, No. 221 Group from November 1942 until April 1944, when he became Group Accountant Officer at No. 222 Group, in which post he showed great ability in bringing all outstanding accounting matters up to date. A heavy burden devolved upon him on the move of Advanced H.Q., Air Command, S.E. Asia to Ceylon. He then displayed the utmost efficiency and worked long and arduous hours as Accountant Officer. Since that date, the Royal Air Force in Ceylon has changed over from Imperial rates of pay to Indian Pay Code. This has involved a complete re-organisation of approximately 14,000 personal accounts, a very big task, which this officer has accomplished with excellent results. By his organising ability and good judgment, Wing Commander Allen imbues not only his immediate staff, but also the accounting staff of the out stations, with keenness and enthusiasm.’

M.M. London Gazette 23 August 1916.

Donald Frederick Allen, who was born in June 1896, enlisted in the Royal Engineers in September 1914 and first went out to France in April 1915, where he won the M.M. and remained actively employed until the War’s end. In September 1921, he transferred to the Royal Air Force as a Clerk, gaining advancement to Corporal in Iraq April 1923 and to Sergeant in Aden in October 1927. A further overseas posting having ensued in Egypt in the early 1930s, he returned to the U.K. and was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in November 1935 and advanced to Flight Sergeant.

Appointed a Warrant Officer (Accounts) in March 1938, Allen was posted to Fighter Command H.Q. at R.A.F. Stanmore in the following month, and gained appointment as a Flying Officer (Accounts) that December, when he moved to 53 Army Co-operation Group. Subsequent U.K. postings included Odiham and Ringway, and he was embarked for India in the temporary rank of Squadron Leader in August 1942, serving in H.Q. No. 221 and 222 Groups, Air Command, S.E. Asia, until returning to the U.K. in November 1945. He was awarded the O.B.E. and mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 1 January 1945 refers).

Post-war, Allen attained the rank of Wing Commander in the Secretarial Branch in July 1947, and was placed on the Retired List in August 1951. He died in June 1982.