Military History

Owen is listed as dying of wounds at the 23rd Casualty Clearing Station at Lozinghem on 11 Apr 1918. We have not been able to identify the exact date he was wounded but a report in the Stratford Herald on 26 Apr 1918 that he had been wounded by several pieces of shrapnel which hit him mainly in the chest.

The Brigade War Diary actually has a single entry for the period 1st to 11th April and is transcribed below. It makes no mention of casualties as they were reported on a monthly not daily basis but is does specify that Owen's B Battery were in action during this time.

South of La Bassee Canal - 1/4/18 to 11/4/18: A/84 & B/84 in action under orders of 59th Bde, 11th D A [Division Artillery]. C/84 & D/84 under orders of 58th Bde, 11th D A.

The whole period was spent on entirely defensive lines. Battery were under continual gas shelling, suffered casualties (see below). This shelling was most severe during the beginning of the period of this German offensive from the Canal to Ass?.

9/4/18: Back areas such as Beuvry & Le Quesnoy were very heavily shelled. Wagon lines of B/84 & C/84 were moved from Le Quesnoy & Beuvry respectively to Annezin on the 10th inst. A/84 W. L. moved to Houchin on the morning of the 11st inst. No hostile attacks were made during this period on our immediate front.

HQ during this period moved from ? to Barlin on the 7th inst and only functioned as far as administration of Btys was concerned.

11/4/18: Personel and guns were withdrawn from the line with orders to be prepared to come into action under 3rd Canadian Division in neighbourhood of Lievin. Wagon Lines were moved to Barlin during the evening. END