'Lions Led By Donkeys'
Walter Allason
(1875-1960)
Brigadier-General
DSO*, GOC Infantry Brigade
Militia
Bedford Regiment
Walter Allason was commissioned in the Bedfordshire Regiment
from the Militia on 9 December 1896. He was well known before the war (and,
indeed, after it) as a swimmer. He was English Plunging [diving] Champion in
1896-7, 1902, 1908, 1909 and 1922. He represented the Army v the Royal Navy at
swimming from 1924 to 1927 and in 1929 and 1930, by which time he was 55! He was
also a crack shot, winning the Aldershot Command Officers’ Challenge Cup in
1912. Allason saw active service in the South African War (1899-1900) and was
mentioned in despatches. By the outbreak of the European War he was 39 and had
reached the rank of major. He went to war with 1st Battalion Bedfordshire
Regiment as part of 15th Brigade, 5th Division, in the original BEF. Allason
remained with his battalion until August 1915 when he was wounded, one of four
wounds he received during the war. He won his first DSO in February 1915.
Allason spent August 1915 to June 1916 at home, first as BM 13th Reserve
Infantry Brigade (August 1915-April 1916) and then as GSO2 Catterick Reserve
Centre (April-June 1916).
He returned to active service in July 1916 as CO 1st
Bedfordshire. He was to enjoy a long period as a battalion commander (until
April 1918), winning a second DSO in November 1916. The citation read: ‘He
executed an attack with the greatest initiative and resource, thereby enabling a
strong enemy position to be captured. He handled his battalion with greatest
skill throughout the operations.’ Allason was promoted GOC 52nd Brigade, 17th
(Northern) Division, on 14 April 1918, in succession to Brigadier-General A J F
Eden, who had been injured a few days earlier. Allason was 43. He was the last
man to command 52nd Brigade during the war.
John Bourne
Centre for First World War Studies
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