Thomas Henry Allanson

On 24 October 1917, the Newcastle Morning Herald reported on the unveiling of the Merewether Advance honour board for the 71 players who had enlisted. Thomas Allanson was one of seven players lost up until that date. He first appeared in Merewether playing lists in 1908 and was a regular playing member for the club until he enlisted at the end of the 1915 season. In France he was transferred to the 53rd Battalion and went missing in action on 19 July 1916 near Fleurbaix. On 2 September 1917 a court of enquiry officially pronounced Private Thomas Allanson killed in action. He was ten days short of his 30th birthday. His younger brother James, who also appears on the board, was wounded in action and returned home to Newcastle.