William David Allan
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel William David Allan OBE
(4 November 1879 – 9 January 1961), known as David Allan, was a British soldier and police officer.
Allan was born in Elgin, Moray
, Scotland. He was educated at Elgin Academy
and Blundell's School
and commissioned a Second Lieutenant
in the 3rd (Morayshire) Volunteer Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders
on 4 January 1902. He transferred to the Regular Army, in the Black Watch
, on 8 February 1902. He served in the South African War and had been promoted Lieutenant
by 1910. On 20 June 1910, he became Adjutant
(and temporary Captain) of the 10th (Cyclist) Battalion , Royal Scots (Territorial Force
). He was promoted Major
in 1917. On 1 January 1919 he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire
(OBE).
Allan served as Chief Constable
of Bootle
from 1919 to 1920, and Chief Constable of Argyll
from 1920 until 22 June 1927. He was then appointed HM Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland. He was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in the Reserve of Officers on 27 March 1929. On 1 December 1930 he was appointed one of the two HM Inspectors of Constabulary for England and Wales
.
On 8 June 1931 he became Assistant Commissioner
"A" of the London Metropolitan Police
, in charge of uniformed policing. However, on 3 November 1931 he returned to the post of Inspector of Constabulary for England and Wales. He retired on 31 August 1938.
Allan married Eve Crozier; they had three sons. He died at his home in Elgin in 1961, aged 81.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(4 November 1879 – 9 January 1961), known as David Allan, was a British soldier and police officer.
Allan was born in Elgin, Moray
Elgin, Moray
Elgin is a former cathedral city and Royal Burgh in Moray, Scotland. It is the administrative and commercial centre for Moray. The town originated to the south of the River Lossie on the higher ground above the flood plain. Elgin is first documented in the Cartulary of Moray in 1190...
, Scotland. He was educated at Elgin Academy
Elgin Academy, Scotland
Elgin Academy is a secondary school in the city of Elgin, Moray, Scotland.-Admissions:Pupils at Elgin Academy are in years S1 to S6. Most arrive in first year from one of the nearby primary schools, which include Bishopmill Primary, West End Primary, East End Primary, Seafield Primary and St...
and Blundell's School
Blundell's School
Blundell's School is a co-educational day and boarding independent school located in the town of Tiverton in the county of Devon, England. The school was founded in 1604 by the will of Peter Blundell, one of the richest men in England at the time, and relocated to its present location on the...
and commissioned a Second Lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the 3rd (Morayshire) Volunteer Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders
Seaforth Highlanders
The Seaforth Highlanders was a historic regiment of the British Army associated with large areas of the northern Highlands of Scotland. The Seaforth Highlanders have varied in size from two battalions to seventeen battalions during the Great War...
on 4 January 1902. He transferred to the Regular Army, in the Black Watch
Black Watch
The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The unit's traditional colours were retired in 2011 in a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II....
, on 8 February 1902. He served in the South African War and had been promoted Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
by 1910. On 20 June 1910, he became Adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
(and temporary Captain) of the 10th (Cyclist) Battalion , Royal Scots (Territorial Force
Territorial Force
The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...
). He was promoted Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in 1917. On 1 January 1919 he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(OBE).
Allan served as Chief Constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
of Bootle
Bootle
Bootle is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England, and a 'Post town' in the L postcode area. Formally known as Bootle-cum-Linacre, the town is 4 miles to the north of Liverpool city centre, and has a total resident population of 77,640.Historically part of...
from 1919 to 1920, and Chief Constable of Argyll
Argyll
Argyll , archaically Argyle , is a region of western Scotland corresponding with most of the part of ancient Dál Riata that was located on the island of Great Britain, and in a historical context can be used to mean the entire western coast between the Mull of Kintyre and Cape Wrath...
from 1920 until 22 June 1927. He was then appointed HM Inspector of Constabulary for Scotland. He was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel in the Reserve of Officers on 27 March 1929. On 1 December 1930 he was appointed one of the two HM Inspectors of Constabulary for England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
.
On 8 June 1931 he became Assistant Commissioner
Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, usually just Assistant Commissioner , is the third highest rank in London's Metropolitan Police, ranking below Deputy Commissioner and above Deputy Assistant Commissioner. There are usually four officers in the rank...
"A" of the London Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan Police Service
The Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for Greater London, excluding the "square mile" of the City of London which is the responsibility of the City of London Police...
, in charge of uniformed policing. However, on 3 November 1931 he returned to the post of Inspector of Constabulary for England and Wales. He retired on 31 August 1938.
Allan married Eve Crozier; they had three sons. He died at his home in Elgin in 1961, aged 81.