Robert Allen was the youngest son of Thomas and Agnes Allen. He was born on 19th February 1894 in Edenderry, Lisburn. He was the youngest of at least seven children. His parents died when he was 10/11 years old. Rifleman Robert Allen was serving with the 13th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles when he was wounded and taken prisoner. He was deemed to be unfit for further active service by German doctors and he was being repatriated through Switzerland when he died of his wounds.in Switzerland on 1st June 1918.
The cemetery came into being as a result of British and Commonwealth soldiers, sailors and airmen who had been taken prisoner by the Germans and had either escaped or, if badly wounded, were sent by the Germans to be cared for by the Swiss Red Cross, but subsequently died. Eighty-eight men lie buried here from that war. Vevey is a town on the northern shore of Lake Geneva (also known as Lake Leman), close to the eastern end of the lake. The cemetery is located above the main railway station. From the station follow the Chemin de l'Esperance. The main entrance to the cemetery is in the Chemin du Point du Jour. The Commonwealth war graves plot forms part of Plot 53, which is roughly in the centre of the cemetery.
