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Pte. Henry Owen
British Army 9th Btn Devonshire Regimengt
from:Talwrn, Anglesey
(d.17th Feb 1917)
Harry Owen was with the 9th Battalion Devonshire Regt., which was raised at the Depot in Exeter from 15 Sept 1914 as part of Lord Kitchener's Second New Army ("K2"). It was part of the 20th (Light) Division at various locations in Aldershot, also Bisley, Haselmere and Bordon till April 1915. Then went overseas via Le Havre 28 July, joining the 20th Brigade, 7th Divn.at Calonne-sur-la-Lys on 8 August 1915.
The 7th Divn. were engaged at the Battle of Loos 25 Sept-8 Oct 1915. Possibly as a result of involvement in the latter end of this battle he left France with a gunshot wound to the neck on 12th October for a Scottish hospital. On recovery he was posted to the 11th Devons, a Reserve battalion which never left the UK, and was part of 10th (Res.) Brigade at Wareham. Returned to France & the 9th Battn. on the 17 Dec 1915, there were no major battles at that time. Harry seems to have fallen ill and been returned to the UK on the 2nd of May 1916 (and so missed the opening of the Battle of the Somme).
He was posted again to the 11th Btn on recovery, but shortly after applied for posting to the Tunnellers RE, effected on 10 August. After due training at Clipstone Camp, Notts. as a "Tunneller's Mate" he was sent back to France 3 October 1916 joining 254th Tunn. Coy. on 16 November 1916 and remained with them till mortally wounded by an explosion from a shell or countermine? before dying of wounds on 11th February 1917.
