Henry Allen

Biography
Mr. Henry Allen was born in the first quarter of 1882 in Southampton, Hampshire, England. He was the son of coal porter William Allen (1847 - ?) and his wife Clara Biles (1855 - ?). He had three older siblings; William Henry (1875 - ?), Annie (1877 - ?) and Edwin (1879 - ?). Henry was baptised on February 10th, 1882, in St. James's Church in Southampton.

The family first appear a few months before Henry's birth living at 23 King Street in Southampton. On the 1891 census, they are now seen residing at 3 St. George's Court, still in Southampton. He started to work at sea and, in 1900, got married to Cecilia Reid (1879 - 1948), a native of Gosport. Together, they had seven children; Emily (1900 - ?), Annie Cecilia (1901 - 1988), William Henry (1903 - ?), Charles Edward (1906 - 1984), Alfred James (1909 - 1989), Clara Elizabeth (1910 - 2003) and Eliza (August 13th, 1912 - 1988). As seen on the 1901 census, the small family lives at 6 Mount Street in Southampton. But, on the 1911 census, they are now seen living at 3 French Street, without Henry. Instead, Henry is listed as an inmate at the HM Prison on Romsey Road, in Winchester, Hampshire, England. His crime remains unknown.

When Henry signed on the R.M.S. Titanic on April 6th, 1912, he gave his address as 3 French Street, Southampton and his previous ship as the R.M.S. Oceanic. On board the Titanic, he would work as a fireman and receive a monthly pay of £6. Also serving on board was his brother-in-law Robert Thomas Reid and James Mason, his lodger. Henry perished in the sinking and his body was recovered. He was the 145th body recovered by the C.S. Mackay-Bennett. He was brought back to Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada and buried at Fairview Lawn Cemetery on May 8th, 1912.

His family would benefit from the Titanic Relief Fund as Class G dependents. His wife got re-married in 1914 to William F. Dollery (1871-1937), a former merchant seaman, and would have further children. Henry is remembered on the family headstone in the Old Common Cemetery Southampton, located in section D 184, plot 110.