A State Funeral was held at HMAS CERBERUS for Mr Evan Allen, who was the last RAN veteran from WWI, and also the last member of the Australian forces to see active service during WWI.
Mr Allen joined the RAN in March 1914, and trained onboard HMAS TINGIRA, (Boys Training Ship), before seeing overseas service in HMA Ships ENCOUNTER and SYDNEY, (cruisers). He continued to serve in the RAN during the inter-war period, and nearly lost his life when swept overboard from HMAS AUSTRALIA, (cruiser), during a storm in the North Atlantic in 1928.
During WWII he saw active service onboard HMAS MORETON BAY, (armed merchant cruiser), and as pier-master at HMAS LADAVA, (RAN depot at Milne Bay). He again escaped death when he was posted to join HMAS AUSTRALIA, (cruiser), in late 1944, but missed a connecting flight by only a few hours. The man he was meant to relieve was killed during the Kamikaze attack on AUSTRALIA at Lingayen Gulf, in early 1945.
Evan retired from the RAN in 1947, after 33 years service, having attained the rank of Lieutenant, and became a farmer in southern Victoria.