Marian Allen
Encyclopedia
Marian Allen was a British
writer, the author of the moving poem now known as "The Wind on the Downs" published in a small 63-page book of poems of the same name. Allen was born at Toxteth Park (now St Scholastica's School), Glebe
, Sydney
, Australia
, the daughter of George Boyce Allen, a barrister, and Isabella Dundas Allen.
By 1908, the parents with their family of six children (three boys and three girls)were living in Woodstock Road, Oxford
, England
.
It was here in 1913–14 that Marian first met Arthur Tylston Greg, whom she was to have married and to whom, under the initials A. T. G. her book of poems was dedicated. Like Marian Allen's brother, George Dundas Allen, Arthur Greg was studying Law at New College, Oxford
and it seems likely that they first met when Arthur Greg visited his fellow student's house. Marian and Arthur's steps on the towpath walk can be retraced walking from Woodstock Road along Leckford Road
, Longworth Road, and Walton Well Road
. The meadow is still there as is a very old wooden gate hitch could quite possibly be the one mentioned in the poem.
In August 1914, on the outbreak of World War I
, Arthur Greg and Dundas (as Marian Allen's brother was known) abandoned their studies and joined the army. Arthur fought in the ferocious battles around the infamous Hill 60
in Belgium
and in May 1915 was badly wounded when part of his lower jaw was shot away. By 1916, Dundas Allen had joined the R. F. C. and was awarded the Military Cross
. It was probably because of this that Arthur Greg too joined the Royal Flying Corps
where, as Captain Greg, he trained to fly the D.H.4 bomber
.
On Wednesday 4 April 1917, Marian Allen and Arthur Greg said goodbye for the last time as Arthur Greg left Charing Cross
for Boulogne to join 55th Squadron. He was shot down over St Quentin
on St George's Day
, 1917. He is buried at Jussy
cemetery with the words, "love is stronger than death". Marian Allen heard the tragic news on either 30 April or 1 May, and some of her finest poems, many of them sonnet
s, were written almost immediately afterward. "To A. T. G." was finished on 2 May, and "I like to think of you..." on 10 May. It seems that, grief-stricken, she was not so much writing poems as continuing her letters to Arthur.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Marian Allen became a successful author/illustrator of children's books such as The Wind in the Chimney, Joy Street volumes etc., writing mainly for Blackwell
. She also designed the dust wrappers for numbers 5 to 11 of the Joy Street volumes. During much of this time she was living in London with her family at 35 Harrington Gardens (now the London
base of Ithaca College
). She always treasured the ticket (number 7935) which Arthur Greg used to leave Charing Cross for Boulogne.
Later in life she returned to Woodstock Road in Oxford where she died unmarried on 12 September 1953.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
writer, the author of the moving poem now known as "The Wind on the Downs" published in a small 63-page book of poems of the same name. Allen was born at Toxteth Park (now St Scholastica's School), Glebe
Glebe, New South Wales
Glebe is an inner-city suburb of Sydney. Glebe is located 3 km south-west of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney, in the Inner West region....
, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, the daughter of George Boyce Allen, a barrister, and Isabella Dundas Allen.
By 1908, the parents with their family of six children (three boys and three girls)were living in Woodstock Road, Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
It was here in 1913–14 that Marian first met Arthur Tylston Greg, whom she was to have married and to whom, under the initials A. T. G. her book of poems was dedicated. Like Marian Allen's brother, George Dundas Allen, Arthur Greg was studying Law at New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
and it seems likely that they first met when Arthur Greg visited his fellow student's house. Marian and Arthur's steps on the towpath walk can be retraced walking from Woodstock Road along Leckford Road
Leckford Road
Leckford Road is a road in North Oxford, England.It runs between Kingston Road to the west and Woodstock Road to the east. To the north half way along is a junction with Warnborough Road...
, Longworth Road, and Walton Well Road
Walton Well Road
Walton Well Road is a road in central north Oxford, England. It provides the main link from central Oxford to Port Meadow and beyond.- Location :...
. The meadow is still there as is a very old wooden gate hitch could quite possibly be the one mentioned in the poem.
In August 1914, on the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Arthur Greg and Dundas (as Marian Allen's brother was known) abandoned their studies and joined the army. Arthur fought in the ferocious battles around the infamous Hill 60
Battle of Hill 60 (Western Front)
The Battle of Hill 60 was an Australian assault that was subsidiary to the Battle of Neuve Chapelle.-1914-15:Hill 60 was a low rise on the southern flank of the Ypres Salient and was named for the 60 metre contour which marked its bounds. Hill 60 was not a natural highpoint, but was created as a...
in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
and in May 1915 was badly wounded when part of his lower jaw was shot away. By 1916, Dundas Allen had joined the R. F. C. and was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
. It was probably because of this that Arthur Greg too joined the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
where, as Captain Greg, he trained to fly the D.H.4 bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
.
On Wednesday 4 April 1917, Marian Allen and Arthur Greg said goodbye for the last time as Arthur Greg left Charing Cross
Charing Cross
Charing Cross denotes the junction of Strand, Whitehall and Cockspur Street, just south of Trafalgar Square in central London, England. It is named after the now demolished Eleanor cross that stood there, in what was once the hamlet of Charing. The site of the cross is now occupied by an equestrian...
for Boulogne to join 55th Squadron. He was shot down over St Quentin
Saint-Quentin, Aisne
Saint-Quentin is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France. It has been identified as the Augusta Veromanduorum of antiquity. It is named after Saint Quentin, who is said to have been martyred here in the 3rd century....
on St George's Day
St George's Day
St George's Day is celebrated by the several nations, kingdoms, countries, and cities of which Saint George is the patron saint. St George's Day is celebrated on 23 April, the traditionally accepted date of Saint George's death in AD 303...
, 1917. He is buried at Jussy
Jussy
-France:Jussy is the name or part of the name of several communes in France:* Jussy, in the Moselle département* Jussy, in the Yonne département* Jussy, in the Aisne département* Jussy-Champagne, in the Cher département...
cemetery with the words, "love is stronger than death". Marian Allen heard the tragic news on either 30 April or 1 May, and some of her finest poems, many of them sonnet
Sonnet
A sonnet is one of several forms of poetry that originate in Europe, mainly Provence and Italy. A sonnet commonly has 14 lines. The term "sonnet" derives from the Occitan word sonet and the Italian word sonetto, both meaning "little song" or "little sound"...
s, were written almost immediately afterward. "To A. T. G." was finished on 2 May, and "I like to think of you..." on 10 May. It seems that, grief-stricken, she was not so much writing poems as continuing her letters to Arthur.
In the 1920s and 1930s, Marian Allen became a successful author/illustrator of children's books such as The Wind in the Chimney, Joy Street volumes etc., writing mainly for Blackwell
Blackwell Publishing
Wiley-Blackwell is the international scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly publishing business of John Wiley & Sons. It was formed by the merger of John Wiley's Global Scientific, Technical, and Medical business with Blackwell Publishing, after Wiley took over Blackwell Publishing in...
. She also designed the dust wrappers for numbers 5 to 11 of the Joy Street volumes. During much of this time she was living in London with her family at 35 Harrington Gardens (now the London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
base of Ithaca College
Ithaca College
Ithaca College is a private college located on the South Hill of Ithaca, New York. The school was founded by William Egbert in 1892 as a conservatory of music. The college has a strong liberal arts core, but also offers several pre-professional programs and some graduate programs. The college is...
). She always treasured the ticket (number 7935) which Arthur Greg used to leave Charing Cross for Boulogne.
Later in life she returned to Woodstock Road in Oxford where she died unmarried on 12 September 1953.
"But when the road is passed, the hilltop won,
We'll tell each other everything we've done. "