Family background
Bertram (or Bert) Allen was born Percy Norman Ayton in Sydney in 1888, the son of Herbert William Ayton (1864–1924), a painter, and Sarah Slattery (1863–1944), of English and Irish ancestry. He used the name Bertram (Bert) Allen since the 1910s, possibly initially as a stage name connected to his acting work, but his official name remained Percy Norman Ayton.
In November 1909 in Waterloo, Percy Norman Ayton married Sarah Jane Popsy Cole, and they had two daughters: Phyllis Norma May (born 1910) and Jean (born 1912). In September 1912, while living at 11 Hargrave Street, Paddington, Sarah Ayton reported her husband’s desertion to the police, noting that he was a comedian travelling with the Lafayette Pantomime Company in Queensland, which led to a warrant being issued for his arrest. Ayton was later apprehended by police but was released without charge. In March 1919, Percy Norman Ayton was granted a divorce from Sarah Ayton on the ground of desertion. It was noted in the proceedings that Ayton was working as a cleaner at the time and had been separated from his wife since July 1914.
On 21 July 1922, at St Michael’s Church, Flinders Street, Surry Hills, Ayton married Jeanette Maude Walters (née Johnson). This marriage produced a son, Patrick Allen Ayton (born 1925).
Bertram Allen died of coronary thrombosis at his residence, 72 Cascade Street, Paddington, on 12 July 1946. His funeral, conducted by Labor Motor Funerals of 240 Oxford Street, Paddington, was held on 13 July 1946 at the Botany Catholic Cemetery in Matraville.
Occupation & interests
Allen variously worked as an actor and also as a painter, an occupation already held by his father and grandfather.
On 9 August 1915, Allen enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, listing his occupation as a painter. Initially a private of the 18th Battalion, he was granted a medical discharge on 19 October 1915, due to a permanent ankle injury.
In the 1930s, Allen was listed as working as a painter while resident at 396 Sussex Street, Sydney, and then later at 340 Oxford Street, Paddington.
Community activity
Allen was appointed a Justice of the Peace in NSW in 1939.
Local government service
On 24 June 1938, Allen, representing the Australian Labor Party, was elected unopposed to the Municipality of Paddington in a by-election for Glenmore Ward, which was triggered by the death of Raymond McLean.
Allen was defeated in his bid for re-election at the following municipal election held on 6 December 1941, being replaced in Glenmore Ward by Henry Reid.
References
Compiled and researched by Andrew Beveridge, 2025
The information about this alderman was compiled in collaboration with Woollahra Library and Information Service.
‘Deserting Wives and Families, Services, etc.’, New South Wales Police Gazette, 11 September 1912, No. 37, p. 365, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article251651793
‘Apprehensions’, New South Wales Police Gazette, 24 September 1913, No. 39, p. 433, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article251645063
‘Slept in Yard – Cleaner’s Married Life’, The Sun, 31 March 1919, p. 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222642849
Marriage Record, Parish of St Michael’s Flinders Street Surry Hills, 21 July 1922, Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney, Anglican Parish Registers.
Death Certificate – Norman Ayton (known as Bertram Allen), 20491/1946, Registered 17 July 1946 in Paddington, NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
‘Deaths. Allen’, Sydney Morning Herald, 13 July 1946, p. 32, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17982426
‘Funerals. Allen’, Sydney Morning Herald, 13 July 1946, p. 31, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17982425
National Archives of Australia: B2455 (First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920), AYTON N 3043026; A9301 (RAAF Personnel files of Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and other ranks, 1921-1948), 164577 AYTON ALLEN PATRICK
New South Wales Government Gazette, 7 December 1939, 190 (Supplement), p. 5689, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article225087827
‘Municipal and Shire Elections. Municipality of Paddington’, Sydney Morning Herald, 25 June 1938, p. 15, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27977722
‘Municipal and Shire Elections – Municipality of Paddington Triennial Election, 6th December 1941. Declaration of Poll’, Sydney Morning Herald, 10 December 1941, p. 6, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17778013