Private Allen Jenner

Allen Jenner was born on April 30, 1898 in Hambledon, Surrey, England to parents Frank and Elizabeth Jenner who immigrated to Paris in 1913. Allan was a farmhand employed by A. E. Gilbert. He enlisted in Paris on February 13, 1916, into the 125th Overseas Battalion. His unit sailed on S.S. Scandinavia on August 8, 1916. On arrival in England, he was transferred to 4th Battalion Canadian Infantry, formerly 125th. He arrived in France on June 12, 1917.

In November 1917, the 4th Canadian Infantry Battalion was heavily engaged in Belgium during the infamous Battle of Passchendaele, or the Third Battle of Ypres. November 1917 at Passchendaele was defined by catastrophic mud, heavy rain, and relentless German artillery, gas attacks, and machine-gun fire.

Allen was admitted to 1 Field Ambulance Depot on November 5, 1917. His lower right arm had been shattered by a shell fragment. Shortly after, he was then transferred to Central Military Hospital in Eastbourne. From there he was transferred, on March 23, 1918 to Granville Canadian Special Hospital where his right forearm was amputated. The Granville Canadian Special Hospital was a prominent overseas military medical facility operated by the Canadian Army Medical Corps (CAMC). It specialized primarily in orthopaedic treatment, nerve and joint injuries, and shell shock.

From Granville, Allen was transferred to No. 5 Canadian General, Kirkdale on May 28, 1918 and from there invalided to Canada aboard H.M.S. Llandovary Castle from Liverpool on June 6. He was discharged in Canada having been found medically unfit on Oct. 16, 1918.

On December 24, 1919, Allen was married in Dorchester to Norma Finch, both of Paris. They had one child. At some point they moved to London and are buried together in Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery, London.