Allen (1891–1940) pioneered aerial photography for the purpose of archaeological research. Born in Oxford on 12 January 1891, the eldest son of John Allen (1857-1934), George Allen was educated at Boxgrove School, Guildford, and Clifton College.
He attended the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, but as he was not able to get into the Royal Engineers he left to become an engineer as a civilian, and worked for Humphreys and Sons, consulting engineers as a waterworks engineer on the East Coast of Africa, before becoming a manager of his father's company.
During the First World War he served in the Royal Tank Corps and was awarded the Military Cross, re-joining his father's company after the war.