You have no doubt already clicked on the ‘Everton‘ tab on the home page, as it explains my own personal role within the cemetery. This page relates to one of my favourite grave stories for the cemetery.
Captain Noel J Allan
Rank: Captain
Date of Death: 18/10/1918
Age: 31
Regiment/Service:Royal Army Medical Corps Grave Reference: I. Q. 23.
Cemetery: BASRA WAR CEMETERY
Noel was educated at St. Francis Xavier’s College, where he was distinguished in mathematics and chemistry. After leaving school he qualified in pharmacy, but later decided to take up medicine, and entered Liverpool University. In the course of his medical studies he gained the Kanthack medal in pathology, the senior Lyons-Jones scholarship, and the Derby prize for clinical medicine, and he graduated with honours in 1916. He then held for a short time the posts of house surgeon and house physician at the Liverpool Royal Infirmary and at the Liverpool Maternity Hospital. Noel joined the R.A.M.C., Territorial Force, early in 1917, entering the war in Mesopotamia on 11th November 1917, he served continuously in the east until he died of burns. He was the second son of Dr James Henry Allan, F.C.S.R. of 47 St. Domingo Grove, Liverpool.
Describing the circumstances of Captain Allan’s fatal accident, a brother officer wrote:- “He was on his way to our hospital when the accident happened. He was passing a level crossing in a motor car when the car was run into by a lot of wagons that were being shunted on the line. One wagon landed completely on the top of the car, bursting the petrol tank and setting the petrol on fire. For a moment both he and his driver were pinned underneath, but another wagon jolted the wreckage and freed them. When they got out, their clothes were completely on fire, and it was in this way that most of the trouble was caused. The driver was not so badly burned as Captain Allan, and rendered him a great service in extinguishing the fire on his clothes. Luckily an officer was passing in a small van, and ran them both into hospital in a few minutes. He seemed to be getting on splendidly, but a telephone message was brought to me saying that Captain Allan was not so well. I went at once to see him, but he had just died. The news stunned me. Next morning he was buried in the cemetery here. There was a large crowd of officers and men of all departments, showing the universal esteem in which he was held . . . The Medical Service has lost a splendid officer; I have lost a sincere friend.”
Under a large window in the entrance hall of Liverpool University’s… Victoria Hall lies the ‘Hopwood Stone’ a triptych with names carved into panels of Ivory coloured french marble.
There are 205 names carved on the memorial, of soldiers of the first World War, who died, returned or were unlisted in the country they died… Cpt Noel Allan, is one of these afore mentioned names.
Cemetery Section RC12 / plot 270
Headstone Inscription
Sacred to the memory of
Margaret Allan
of Stockton on Tees
died 31st May 1903
aged 75 years
also Teresa Clegg
the beloved wife of
William Harry Clegg
of Whittingham Preston
died 23rd November 1912
aged 49 years
also Capt Noel J Allan, M.B. / R.A.M.C.
son of Dr & Mrs Allan of Everton
who died in Mesopotamia
18th October 1918, aged 31 years
also Mary Brudenell
beloved wife of
Dr. James H Allan
died Jan 6th 1927, in her 71st year