7th (Queen’s Own) Hussars
Augustus Allinson was born in 1861 in the parish of St Mary, Woolwich, Kent. His father was Augustus Ward Allinson MD, who died on 3 April 1870 and in 1860 he had been appointed as Honorary Assistant Surgeon to the Royal East Kent Rifles Yeomanry. His mother was Fanny Francis Virtue Allinson (née Smith) — she died in 1899 — and it is believed that Augustus had two brothers and a sister. They are listed in the Army Register of Soldiers’ Effects 1901-1929, kept by the National Army Museum, as beneficiaries of his War Gratuity: there is no evidence of any widow.
Augustus was a former regular soldier. The Royal Hospital Chelsea Pensioner Soldier Service Records 1760-1920 reveal that he joined the 7th Hussars on 20 September 1880, when aged 19, having previously been a clerk and received the number 2321. He signed up for eight years plus a further four in the Reserve. He received regular promotion from June 1883 and became a Sergeant on 7 May 1885. He served in the UK from 14 September 1880 until 24 November 1886, in India from 25 November 1886 until 20 November 1888 and back in the UK, in the Reserve, from 21 November 1888 until discharged, having completed 12 year’s service, on 13 September 1892.
Unfortunately most Army service records relating to the Great War have not survived. However, Soldiers Died in the Great War states that he resided in Lincoln and enlisted at Exeter. Given that he was about 53 years of age when the Great War began it is almost certain that Augustus volunteered to serve again and at the age of 53 was re-assigned to his former unit, 7th Hussars, in a training or administrative capacity and was posted to the 5th (Southern) Cavalry Depot, based at Bristol.
The Gloucestershire Journal of 5 February 1916 included a list of wounded (or sick) soldiers who had arrived at Midland Station, Gloucester on 4 February and were conveyed to the Red Cross Hospital in taxis lent by the Blue Taxi Company. Augustus’ name was included amongst them. The same newspaper, on 12 February, published a death notice, stating that he had died at New Hospital, Great Western Road, Gloucester on 6 February 1916, age 55 years, serving with 7th Hussars. It also carried a report of his funeral, which was at Gloucester Old Cemetery, with semi-military honours. This stated that he belonged to ‘A’ Squad(ron) and had arrived at the Red Cross
Hospital on 3 February (different date to earlier report) and that he was seen as being seriously ill. The cause of death was stated to be ‘syncope’ – which could have been fainting, due to either a
cardiac or cerebral condition.
A standard CWGC headstone marks his grave.
Researched by Graham Adams 2 August 2018