South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project
The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One |
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Military History |
| Theatre of War in Which Died | Campaign Medals | Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial |
|---|---|---|
| Mediterraen Sea | British War & Victory Medals | Tower Hill Memorial, London |
| First Arrived in Theatre | Bravery & Conduct Medals | SWFHS Area Memorials |
| Not applicable | ~ | Leamington Spa War Memorial |
| Action, Battle or Other Reason Died | Date and Place Enlisted | Other War Memorials |
| Died in the sinking of HMHS Dover Castle | Not found | ~ |
| Place of Death | Previous Regiments or Units | |
| Mediterraen Sea off Gibraltar | See below | |
Previous Service History
- 26 Jul 1902 - Enlisted in Royal Navy aged 20 and posted to HMS Vivid 2 as a Stoker
- 1 Apr 1906 - Posted to HMS Theseus
- 7 Mar 1907 - Medically discharged with a Hernia and Mental Debility
- 6 Nov 1908 - Refused re-entry to Royal Navy
Circumstances of Death
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Owen is listed as being lost at sea when his vessel His Majesty's Hospital Ship Dover Castle was sunk by a German U-Boat on 7th September 1917 HMHS Dover Castle was torpedoed by the German U-boat UC-67 on 26 May 1917, while 50 miles (80 km) north of Bône on passage from Malta to Gibraltar. The initial explosion killed seven boiler stokers, but the crew was able to evacuate the wounded onto HMS Cameleon. The captain and a small crew tried to save the ship, but she was hit by a second torpedo an hour later and sank in three minutes at map reference 37°45′N 7°45′E.
The Captain of the U-Boat, Karl Neumann, who commanded UC-67, was tried for sinking the hospital ship at the Leipzig War Crimes Trials. The German Reichsgericht (Supreme Court) found him not guilty. Neumann admitted torpedoing the ship but pleaded that he was obeying orders issued by the German Admiralty in March 1917. |
| Personal & Family History |
| Birth Date/Place | Baptism Date/Place |
|---|---|
| 18 Feb 1882 in Leamington Spa | 4 Jun 1882 at Leamington Spa, St Mary |
| Parents Names | Abode |
| George William and Ellen Eliza Barrett | 22 Victoria Avenue, Worcester |
| Schools | Colleges |
| ~ | |
| Address History | Employment History |
| 1882 - Rushmore Street, Leamington Spa | 1891 - Scholar |
| 1891 - 2 Earl Street, Leamington Spa | 1901 - Lift Attendent |
| 1901 - Sailors Home, Canning Place, Liverpool | 1902 - Stoker in Royal Navy |
| 1902 - HMS Vivid, Devonport | 1907 - Navy Pensioner |
| 1908 - 80 Pugin Street, Liverpool | 1908 - Fireman aboard the SS Carmania |
| 1917 - 34 North Avenue, Southend, Essex | 1911 - Not found |
