Robert (Bobi) Spencer Allen ¹ was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England in the latter months of 1876 and he was baptised on 12 November that year in St Paul's Church, Princes Park, Liverpool.

He was the son of Liverpool-natives William Henry Allen (1840-1923), a customs officer, and his wife Margaret, née Pedder (1846-1900) who had married in St Michael's Church, Toxteth on 18 December 1857. Robert had twelve known siblings: William Henry (b. 1868), George (b. 1870), Mary Frances (b. 1871), Thomas (b. 1873), Sarah Jane (b. 1874), George (b. 1879), Alfred (b. 1881), Alice Maud (b. 1883), Frederick Arthur (b. 1885), Emily Elsie (b. 1887), Harold (b. 1889) and Ethel May (b. 1893).

Robert first appears on the 1881 census when he and his family were living at 11 Cromwell Street in Toxteth Park. The family had moved to 27 Hawkstone Street, Toxteth by the time of the 1891 census and Robert, aged 14, had already left school and was described as a shop boy.

Robert was married in Toxteth in early 1900 to Georgina Emily Jones (b. 1878 in Salford, Lancashire). The couple would have a total of five children but would lose two in infancy. Their surviving children were: Robert Spencer (b. 13 April 1901), Vera Laurabel(b. 1902) and Clifford Leslie (b. 1907).

The family moved from Liverpool to Southampton sometime after the birth of their youngest child and appear on the 1911 census living at Durlston, Kenilworth Road, The Polygon, Southampton and Robert is described as a ship's steward.

When he signed-on to the Titanic, on 4 April 1912, Allen gave his address as Durlston, Kenilworth Road, (Southampton). His last ship had been the Olympic. As a bedroom steward he received monthly wages of £3, 15s.

Robert Spencer Allen died in the sinking. His body, if recovered, was never identified.  

ALLAN — April 15th, 1912, on the S.S. Titanic, Robert Spencer, the dearly beloved husband of Georgina Emily Allan, of Durlston, Keilworth Road, Southampton. Deeply mourned by his sorrowing wife and children. God be with you till we meet again.  Southern Daily Echo, 28 April 1912

ALLAN — In loving memory of Robert Spencer (Bobi) the dearly-loved son of William Henry and the late Margaret Allan, who was lost on S.S. Titanic- April 15 1912, in his 36th year. (For ever with the Lord.)— 34. South Hill-road. - Liverpool Echo, 15 April 1915

His widow and children later benefitted from the Titanic Relief Fund and later relocated back to their native Liverpool. Georgina Emily Allen never remarried and died aged 57 in 1936, but not before she weathered the death of her two sons Clifford and Robert.

Clifford was married in 1930 to Eleanor Wilson but he died just over four years later towards the end of 1934 aged 27.

Robert Allen followed in his father's footsteps and went to work for the Merchant Service. Like his father before him, Robert died at sea on 23 November 1923.

Robert Spencer Allen's last surviving child Vera Laurabel was married in 1921 to Bertram Taylor and they raised a family. She was widowed at a young age and she herself died in Liverpool aged 39 on 29 November 1940.

Robert is remembered on the family headstone in Toxteth Park cemetery, Liverpool, England in section C/E 4, plot 535.