Matthew Allan was born in Southampton, his father was a Saloon Steward on Teutonic, and his mother stayed home to take care of him. He went to sea as a Bedroom Steward on Oceanic || in 1909. He had also joined the RNR as a steward the same year, and stayed on Oceanic until he became a captain's steward on Adriatic in March 1912. He stayed in this role until war broke out and served as a mess steward on a couple different vessels until he became a captain's steward on Britannic. For her 5th voyage, and now her sixth.