It is believed Norman John Allen was born in County Antrim about 1898. The 1911 census lists a Norman J Allen living with as age 13, living with relatives at house 18 in Coagh. Samuel and Jane McKelvey were his aunt and uncle. Norman was still at school. Private Norman Allen served with the Royal Irish Rifles for a time, and also the Royal Irish Regiment. He was admitted to the hospital in October 1916 with pleurisy. Private Allen survived the war. He would have been about 20 years old when the war ended.