A woolwork embroidery showing a display of national flags surrounding a studio photograph of a naval rating holding a ship's wheel, probably the maker. He wears blue trousers, a white frock and a sennet hat. The uniform dates from before 1894. The flags read anticlockwise left to right are: the Union Flag, a fanciful or inaccurate flag, possibly an Irish green ensign with an invisible Irish harp, a slightly inaccurate Italian ensign, a Turkish ensign, Red Ensign, White Ensign, Brazilian ensign, Netherlands ensign, Blue Ensign, an unidentified flag, and a United States ensign. A ready-made barber's pole braid is used to frame the photograph and for the flag staves which are ornamented with tassels. A crown is placed above the photograph, this is flanked by two ribbons with the inscriptions 'FORGET ME NOT', and 'REMEMBER ME'. Below the flags is worked a spray of rose, thistle and shamrock with foul anchors at the outer ends. Striped and tasselled curtains are placed in the upper corners of the picture.

Allen entered the Royal Navy in 1887, having volunteered for twelve years service. After an initial spell on various training ships, he served on 'Ranger', 'Osprey', and 'Wildfire'. He joined HMS 'Warspite' as an Ordinary Seaman in 1890 and left the Navy in 1895, by that time rated Able Seaman.