It might have been one of those unknown numbers trying to sell life insurance, or to convince you to pay into a charity, but this out of the blue phone call altered Nicholas Allan’s life and family history, writes Simon Pizzey.
“I have some news, your DNA is a match,” the voice on the end of the line said, “the remains we found belong to your Great Uncle, James Allan.”
“I was stopped in my tracks,” admits Nicholas, chef and co-founder, of Star Anise Café, Stroud. Little did he know the confirmation would kickstart a deeply emotional journey to uncover more of a wartime family legacy.
The call came nine months after Nicholas received a hand-delivered letter informing him that human remains had been found during the building of a new hospital at Lens, in Northeastern France. The discovery also included Highlander uniform buttons, and Nicholas was one of fourteen possible descendants. He took up the offer of donating a DNA sample to help confirm identification.
Having almost forgotten about the letter and the request, the surprise phone call in January 2025 was from Nicola Nash, representing the Ministry of Defence Commemorations Team, based in Staverton, Gloucester.
“I remember deep emotions of connection welling up in me,” Nicholas recalls.
The story of Nicholas’ great uncle gradually began to unfold. James Allan was commissioned into the army in 1914 in his hometown of Edinburgh, while at the University and in his second year of studying Humanities.
James’ youngest sister, Jean – thirteen at the time – witnessed him leave their home in Edinburgh in June 1915 and wrote in her diary: “I have seen my brother’s face for the last time on this earth.”
Tragically, she was right. On September 25th, 1915, Lieutenant Allan of the 9th Gordon Highlanders Battalion was shot dead by enemy machine gun fire on Hill Seventy after defending a new position, without back-up, during the appallingly bloody battle for Loos, in North Eastern France. The official report said he was “last seen rallying some infantry in a most gallant manner.”
He was twenty years old, and not alone in death.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission estimate that there are still at least 100,000 soldiers lying under the battlefields of France, an estimated 20 to 30,000 in the five-kilometre square area surrounding the new Lens hospital building. Putting a digger shovel in the ground means there is a good chance of finding human remains on any given day.
DNA extraction is not always possible, and in the past many bones have been uncovered, moved and scattered without being recorded. But not in this case. In September 2025 – as near to the battle date as possible – Lieutenant James Grant Allan will be laid to rest at the Loos British Cemetery, with full military honours.
To pay tribute to their great uncle’s memory, Nicholas and his younger brother, Christopher, plan to wear kilts to the event, made from one of sixteen possible Allan tartans. Christopher, a professional cellist, will play a piece of music during the service.
“My grandfather, Nimmo, was only eighteen when his brother was killed in the First World War. He survived the war, but never spoke about his brother, and I barely knew of his existence. After 110 years, I’m going to be allowed to bring this young man to rest and honour his spirit,’ says Nicholas, “and I feel very moved.”
The poignancy – and perhaps a soldier’s humour – hits home in the last letter from James Allan to his family: “Don’t imagine that I am unhappy, because I am not. It is merely that the uselessness of the whole thing has been impressed on me in the last two days. Now much love and goodnight. Jim. PS: Wanted. Some matches.”
Christopher Allan from London, will be playing a concert in St Laurence Church, Stroud, on Thursday, February 13th at 7.30pm with the Cellophonics. “The glorious sound of four cellos”. Ticket £16 online or from Star Anise Café.
