By concealing his true age, Allen Whitty joined the Worcestershire Regiment as a 13-year-old boy and soon saw service in India where he developed his skills as a marksman. He returned home as a regimental sergeant major in 1897 and became a well-known figure at Army and national rifle meetings. He was a member of the Army VIII at various times between 1897 and 1920 and he shot in the King’s Hundred five times, the last being in 1938 as a 71-year-old. Allen Whitty was gazetted to a quartermaster’s commission in his county regiment in June 1916, and later that year, won a DSO after which he was soon promoted to lieutenant colonel. At the 1924 Olympics, Whitty only competed in the running deer, double shot, events, and after finishing in 18th place individually, he won a gold medal as a member of the team that defeated Norway by single point.
Great Britain