Joseph C Allen was born on March 16, 1908 in Douro Township, ON, the third of seven children, to John James Allen (1876-1961) and Mary Agnes (Leahy) Allen (1880-1942). It was here he spent his first five years before the family relocated to Edmonton, AB. After finishing high school, he enrolled at Camrose Normal School (1924-25) where, upon completion of his schooling, he received his Teaching Certificate. From 1925 until 1929 he taught at various public and high schools in Alberta as a Physical Training Instructor. The year 1929 saw him entering the University of Alberta, first earning his Bachelor of Arts (1933) and then completing his law studies (1937). He then articled for C.H. Grant, K.C. of Grant & Stewart from 1937 to 1938.
Seeing a stable future, he was joined in holy matrimony July 16, 1938 to Ruby Maude McCaskill (1912-1978) in Fort McMurray, AB. The following month he established his own law practice and noted in his Service File is that, “He is working hard to build up his practise and is mettiing [meeting] with apparently better success than the average young man starting on his own.”
“Clete” and Ruby welcomed their first child in February 1941 before he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) 09-August-1941 at Edmonton, AB. Upon enlistment, he was granted the rank of Pilot Officer and then posted to the School of Administration, Trenton, ON for training – Course No.18 (11 August 1941- 06 September 1941), passing 18th in a class of 42. Upon successful completion of training, he was promoted to the rank of Flying Officer. He then began his service career as an Administrative Officer, being posted at various training centres in Alberta (MacDonald, Edmonton & University of Alberta Detachment). In September 1942, he and his wife welcomed their second son Derek Bruce Allen (1942-1979).
In the early part of 1943, he applied for aircrew training and on 24-March-1943 the following was noted in his Service File: “This Officer’s application for aircrew training under A.F.A.O. A44/11 has been approved and he is posted for training as air gunner. Retains present rank until successful completion of training at which time he will revert to rank of Pilot Officer on transfer to the General List.”
He was sent to No.2 Air Gunners Ground Training School (AGGTS), Trenton, ON – Course No.55 (05 April 1943 – 25 June 1943), passing 20th in a class of 122.
A Forgotten Hero…
Upon graduation he was awarded his Air Gunners Badge and was “Transferred from RCAF, Special Reserve, NFL, Admin. Br. to RCAF, Special Reserve, G.L. & reverts to the rank of P/O at his own request eff[ective]. 25.6.43.”.
Allen was granted 16 days leave before coming onto No.34 Operational Training Unit, Pennfield Ridge 09-July-1943. Although his time here was brief, he accumulated 9.25 hours flying time (6.50 day & 2.35 night).
Crash of Ventura FN973, 10-August-1943
The aircraft took off at 1655 hrs. GMT, the presence of the crew [Sgt. Russell LAWS (NZ421515) (P), P/O Robert Alexander LEDINGHAM (J/27450) (Nav.B), Sgt. Trevor Alexander ALBREY (NZ425583) (WAG) and ALLEN (A/G)], in the aircraft being established by the evidence.
The object of the flight was a low level cross-country training session at 250 ft. above the ground and sea lasting 3 hours.
The accident report says “Base – Quance Head – Base” meaning basically take off from Pennfield Ridge (Base), fly approx. 1.5 hours to target (Quance Head) and then fly another 1.5 back to Base (Pennfield Ridge). So the flight would have been over land & sea in NB and/or NS.
At 1855 hrs. the Ventura crew returned from the cross-country flight and contacted the control tower requesting permission to bomb Utopia range. The Air Station had two bombing ranges (Lake Utopia (Cannonball Island) and Musquash Marsh).
…from a note by an airman attached to the Pennfield Ridge Armoury and in charge of a group of men who would chart the performances of The Daily Bombing runs at Utopia and Musquash: “The group would consist of 4 Airmen and myself. The day was always taken up by charting the bombing runs and keeping the records straight.”
However, the aircraft was not seen by the Utopia Range crew. At 1853 hrs. and at 1900 hrs. a Ventura was seen by two other Ventura crews heading out to sea. At 2330 hrs. a searching aircraft returned to base and reported sighting a yellow object in the sea 8 miles east of North Head.
GR.V FN973 with two fuel tenders
On 11-August-1943 the search for FN973 continued at first light with 9 aircraft from Pennfield, 8 from Summerside, 9 from Moncton, 72 from Yarmouth, 8 from Debert, 9 from Dartmouth, 1 from Saint John and 4 from Bar Harbour. The following marine craft also searched:- Pennfield Crash Boat M413 (B119), 1 Coastguard Cutter from Bar Harbour and 1 Navy Patrol Boat and 1 Coastguard Cutter from Eastport. Wreckage from FN973 was found by the said Pennfield Crash Boat south of the Wolves Island.
High-Speed Launch M413 (B119)
Among the wreckage recovered was a water container, 3 ration boxes and 1 sleeping bag, all of which were marked No. 973. Also, sundry small pieces of broken aircraft flooring were found in the area but none of it could be identified as part of the aircraft.
On 12-August-1943 the body of P/O Ledingham was picked up by fishermen (an unknown fishing crew from Grand Manan, and Ozra Newman and his son Lawrence from Wilson’s Beach), two hundred yards north of White Horse Island and was brought into Blacks Harbour by the Pennfield Crash Boat.
Allen was survived by his wife Ruby; two sons (3.5 & 2 years of age) and his father (his mother died July 13, 1942), along with one brother and five sisters. His last sister, the second oldest, departed this life December 30, 1988 (age 83).
“A Forgotten Hero” from Pennfield Ridge remembered and honoured.
Fallen Brother
As a sad sequel, on the evening of 26-December-1943 during the Battle of Ortona, (a town in the Abruzzi region of central Italy, on a promontory 230 feet (70 m) above sea level, on the Adriatic coast), Lieutenant Edmond Bernard (Bunny) Allen of ‘B’ Company, Loyal Edmonton Regiment, led his platoon into a
A Forgotten Hero…
multi-storey building in the northeast sector of Ortona where they would hold their position for the night. Overnight, the German 1st Fallschirmjäger Regiment sent out a small scouting party to confirm the occupancy of the house, after having been informed the position was held by a group of Canadians. A pioneer section was sent to mine the bottom storey and the building was set to implode upon exploding. In the early morning of 27-December-1943 the Germans blew the building up, instantly trapping Lt. Allen’s entire platoon. On 30-December-1943, crews still clearing away the rubble confirmed Lt. Edmond Bernard Allen (age 32) and the entirety of his platoon were dead beneath it.
Postscript: St Croix Courier, August 22nd, 1942
Christian Larsen currently serves as President of Pennfield Parish Military Historical Society. He has been actively involved in researching the genealogical & military history of Pennfield Parish for nearly four decades. From 2009 until 2017 he hosted the annual Pennfield Ridge War Memorial Services. Recognized at the provincial & federal levels for his work with Veterans having been awarded the Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012); Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal (2023); Minister of Veteran Affairs Commendation (2024) & King Charles III’s Coronation Medal (2025). He can be reached at: ppmhsociety@gmail.com
