Owen, David Henry

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David Henry Owen

25004, Private, 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Killed in action, 3 September 1916, aged 23
No known grave (Thièpval Memorial, Somme, France)

CWGC registered (no family details)

David Henry Owen was born in Llandudno on 30 October 1892. He was the son of David and Jane Owen who lived at “Garfield House”, Madoc Street, Llandudno. David (senior) was a carter. The Census of Wales for 1901 records David (8) and three siblings: John (18), Robert (11) and Annie (7). That year David Owen was recorded as attending Lloyd Street Council School. When he left school is not stated in the register. The 1911 Census for Wales records the family living at the same address, David Henry Owen (18) being described as an errand boy for a gentlemen’s outfitter and tailor.

David Henry Owen originally attested to join the Royal Welsh Fusiliers on 8 January 1915 but it was not until 5 March, having reattested, that he joined the 17th (Service) Battalion (2nd North Wales) which had formed at Llandudno on 2 February 1915. He gave his age as 22 and his occupation as a porter. His regimental number was 25004. The 17th RWF moved to Winchester in August 1915, but not with David Henry Owen on its strength because he had been posted at his own request to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion at Litherland near Liverpool on 19 June 1915. His reason for this request is not stated in his service record. He embarked for France on 30 September 1915 and was posted to the 1st Battalion on 2 October 1915.

David Henry Owen was killed in action on 3 September 1916 aged 23 at Delville Wood during the Battle of the Somme. The Battalion war diary recorded that on that day, 25 were killed, 136 were wounded and 88 were missing. David Henry Owen has no known grave.

Known memorials:

  • Thièpval Memorial, Somme, France
  • Llandudno Roll of Honour
  • Llandudno War Memorial
  • Memorial Chapel, Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno
  • Eglwys Ebenezer, Llandudno

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