Kenneth Edward Allanson was born to Edward and Dora Maud Allanson in Woking, Surrey, the youngest of five siblings, with brothers James and Harold and two sisters.

After leaving school, Kenneth qualified as a solicitor and joined the law firm Bate & Co. of Lincoln's Inn.

In 1938 he joined the Honourable Artillery Company, a Territorial Army unit in the City of London and is recorded as having a non-commissioned rank of Gunner.

Both Kenneth's brothers also served in the services, James in the 51st Highland Division in North Africa and Italy, Harold with Z Force in Burma an intelligence unit operating behind enemy lines.

Kenneth was promoted to Lance Bombardier in October 1939.

Kenneth was gazetted in the London Gazette on the 31st May 1940 as being commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the Royal Regiment of Artillery on 25th May 1940 following training at either 122nd or 123rd Officer Cadet Training Unit (RA). He was posted to Woolwich in June 1940 then Hong Kong in July 1940. He sailed on the SS Viceroy of India from Liverpool arriving in Hong Kong in September 1940 to serve with 8 Coastal Regiment, Eastern Fire Command.

On the 18th December 1941 the Japanese landed on the north shore of Hong Kong. The War Diaries of the Royal Artillery Island East Group state that Lieutenant Allanson was in command of the Sai Wan Howitzer guns:

"The landing was a very close threat to the Sai Wan Section which prepared to defend itself with small arms, and 2/Lt Allanson who joined on the 15 December from 8th Coast Regt, RA was in charge at Sai Wan at this time"

When the Anti-aircraft position above the Sai Wan Howitzers was taken by the Japanese, Kenneth Allanson's section found themselves on the front line and came under heavy fire. After attempts to retake Sai Wan Hill were unsuccessful and with no trucks available to tow their guns, the gunners disabled their Howitzers and withdrew to Parker Section in the early hours of Friday 19 December. Soon after they were ordered to withdraw to Stanley Fort and the gunners became infantry for the rest of the battle.

As infantry Kenneth's section were involved in a large assault on Wong Nai Chung Gap on 19th December initially recapturing the centre, including the police station and holding it successfully for several hours. A large Japanese counterattack inflicted heavy losses on the gunners with only thirteen making it back to Stanley Fort.

Kenneth was taken prisoner when Hong Kong surrendered on 25th December 1941 and by April 1942 he was in the Argyle Street POW Camp.

It is not clear when Kenneth Allanson was promoted to Captain, whether during the Battle for Hong Kong or later during his time in the POW camp. On the smuggled list of POWs, compiled after the sinking, (page 13 entry 1953) he is still listed as Lieutenant while on the Commonwealth War Grave Commission registration he is listed as Captain.

In September 1942 he was moved to Sham Shui Po and then embarked on the Lisbon Maru and was one of 376 men of the Royal Artillery allocated to hold No.3. As the ship was sinking Kenneth Allanson helped to operate the four-man pump which had been lowered into the hold. After the war Kenneth's mother Dora Maude Allanson was visited by a survivor from hold No.3 who told her that Kenneth had manned the pump to the very end, his selfless actions saving many others lives.

Kenneth sadly did not survive the sinking of the Lisbon Maru, he was 30 years old. His actions are mentioned in Philip Cracknell's book The Battle for Hong Kong .