Pte Ernest Allin, 2421, 24th Battalion County of London Regiment (The Queen's), died on May 1st, 1915, of wounds sustained in action near Bethune in France. He was aged 22, born on April 10th, 1893.

The former Luton Modern School scholar had been employed for three years as an apprentice technician at Vauxhall and West Hydraulic Company before he enlisted at the outbreak of war. He lived with his sister, Miss C. Allin, a well-known vocalist, at 104 Selbourne Road, Luton.

Comrades from Luton were among those with Pte Allin when he was wounded in the abdomen while in the trenches. They later attended his funeral at Bethune Town Cemetery.

One of his pals, Pte Horace Chapman, of 31 Ashburnham Road, Luton, wrote to his parents: "You know Ernie Allin, who used to go about with Percy [Pte Chapman's brother]. He lived in Stanley Street, I think his sister is the singer. Well, he was helping fetch the food for his platoon, No. 2, when he got a bullet through him and he died early yesterday morning [May 1st]. He is the first Luton boy of our lot to stop one, though we have had a few others catch them."

The 1911 Cesus records Ernest Allin living at 16 Stanley Street with his widowed mother Ann, sister Agnes May and older brother Frederick Thomas.

Ernest was believed to have been the first old boy of Luton Modern School to be killed in World War One. He was a pupil at the school from September 17th, 1907, to July 28th, 1909, under first headmaster Mr T. A. E. Sanderson. He is commemorated on the school memorial now housed at Stockwood Discovery Centre.

A coloured photograph of Pte Allin was presented to the Old Lutonians Club. The photograph was taken from Park Square to Bradgers Hill when the school moved there in 1938. Through the late John Dony, the portrait is now housed at Wardown House Museum.