A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Wall, Allen
WALL. (Lieutenant, 1815. f-p., 23; h-p., 20.)
Allen Wall was born 23 Sept. 1790. His father was a merchant of standing in the city of London; and one of his relatives. Governor Hollwell, was for some time confined in the Black Hole at Calcutta. Two of his brothers were in the Naval Service: one of them, a Lieutenant of the Calcutta 56, Capt. Dan. Woodriff, was captured in that ship, after a gallant action, by the Majestueux 74, part of a squadron under M. Allemand, 26 Sept. 1805. He was for many years a prisoner in the fortress of Bitche; and on his return to England, where he soon died, he published a history of his captivity. This officer entered the Navy, 19 Aug. 1804, as a Volunteer, on board the Helena 18, Capts. Woodley Losack and Jas. Andrew Worth; in which sloop, employed on the coast of Ireland and among the Western Islands, he aided in making prize, 5 June, 1805, of the Santa Leocadia Spanish privateer of 14 guns and 114 men, and in effecting, at different times, several recaptures. In Dec. 1808 (he had already attained the rating of Midshipman) he removed as Master’s Mate to the Demerara 18, Capts. Wm. Bourchier, Wm. Dowers, Wm. Bertie, Thos. Hunlocke, Thos. Donnithorne, Geo. Kippen, and Wm. Henry Smith, on the West India station where we find him, in 1809-10, warmly engaged with the enemy at the reduction of Martinique and Guadeloupe. At the taking of the former island he was in the first boat that touched the shore previously to the storming of Fort Edward. When in company with the Pultusk brig, he was employed in the boats in cutting out a letter-of-marque under the batteries of Guadeloupe. An attack of yellow fever compelled his being sent on one occasion to’ the hospital at Antigua. On returning to his ship he found but 20 living out of a crew consisting originally of 84. From the Demerara he removed, in March, 1812, to the Statira 38, Capt. Hassard Stackpoole. In her he proceeded to the coast of North America. While in charge there of the Apollo, a recaptured ship of 8 guns, he beat off, with but 8 men on board, an American privateer, after an action of two hours, in the course of which he was wounded in the side. On another occasion, the Statira having retaken an American brig, the Adelaide, he was sent on board during a fog, accompanied by 3 men only. On the fog dispersing, he found himself in the midst of an American squadron; whose presence obliged the Statira to make all sail. Left thus to his own resources, he secured an American Midshipman and Mate, who had been left in the prize; made for the shore; and, having got inside the rocks, succeeded, with the assistance of a fishing-boat, in reaching in safety the port of Shelburne. In Jan. 1813, being on his passage home in the Spye store-ship, Master-Commander Rich. Anderson, he took part in a spirited engagement of an hour and 20 minutes, which terminated in the beating off by that vessel of a French national schooner of far superior force. On the following morning, however, the Spye was captured by a French frigate; but in two days afterwards the British were given up, it being understood that they were not to serve again during the war. We may here mention, that, on the ship being captured, Mr. Wall had with great presence of mind destroyed the signals. In April, 1813, the condition upon which he had been restored to liberty having been set aside by the Admiralty, he went back to the Spye in the capacity of Master’s Mate; and he continued to serve in her in the Channel until transferred, in the following July, to the Acorn 20, Capt. Geo. Henderson, fitting at Woolwich for the East Indies. Owing to a severe illness brought on by fatigue in stowing the tanks, Mr. Wall, the only officer at the time on board, was under the necessity, on reaching Portsmouth, of being sent to Haslar Hospital. Restored to health, he joined, in Sept. 1813, the Hope 10, Capt. Edw. Saurin; under whom he was for seven months employed in the Channel, chiefly in convoying and in chasing privateers. From 15 June until 16 Aug. 1815 his name was borne as a Supernumerary on the books of the Namur 74, Capt. Geo. M‘Kinley, guard-ship at the Nore; and on 7 Sept. ensuing he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. He filled an appointment in the Coast Blockade, as Supernumerary-Lieutenant of the Hyperion 42, Capt. Wm. Jas. Mingaye, from 27 Dec. 1830 until 23 March, 1831. Since 28 Aug. 1834, he has been in charge of a station in the Coast Guard in Ireland. His exertions at various periods in saving, and in endeavouring to save, life have obtained the thanks of the Inspector-General. In the execution of his duty he has been much hurt; once indeed so severely that his constitution has been ever since impaired.
Lieut. Wall, now a widower, married, 10 Oct. 1816, Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. Willes, of co. Essex, by whom he had issue six children. Agents – Messrs. Chard.