Four: Pipe Major G. Allan, 46th Battalion (South Saskatchewan), Canadian Infantry, late Scots Guards, who died of wounds on the Western Front, 21 August 1917

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Belmont, Modder River, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Belfast (2755 Piper G. Allan, Scots Gds); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (2755 Piper G. Allen. [sic] Scots Guards.) suspension mount bent; British War and Victory Medals (426676 Sjt. G. Allan. 46-Can. Inf.) mounted for wear, first two fine, last very fine or better (4) £1,000-£1,400

George Keith Allan was born in Oxton, Berwickshire, Scotland in March 1880. He served for 12 years with the Scots Guards, including during the Second Boer War, before emigrating to Canada where he became a Brewer. Allan enlisted in the 46th Battalion (South Saskatchewan), Canadian Infantry in March 1915, and is mentioned in the Suicide Battalion by J. L. McWilliams and R. J. Steel as forming the 46th’s Pipe Band. Allan advanced to Pipe Major and served with the Battalion at Ypres, the Somme, Vimy, Lens and Passchendaele. According to the Suicide Battalion Allan went ‘On a toot’ with another piper without asking for official leave, and when the pair returned the CO (Colonel Dawson) reduced them both to Private and ordered them to be sent out on the next attack. Allan received his fatal wounds in this attack, and the other piper is recorded as losing his fingers from his wounds.

Private Allan died of wounds on the Western Front, 21 August 1917, and is buried in the Villers Station Cemetery, France.

Sold with copied research, and a photographic image of recipient as part of the 46th Battalion Pipe Band.