Name
Bertie Frank Owen
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
394749
Army Service Corps
Motor Transport
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Bertie Owen was born Rickmansworth in the autumn of 1886. He was one of eight children (three sons and five daughters) born to Thomas Owen and his first and second wives Mercy and Sophia. Thomas worked as a Gas Stoker at the Asylum and in the 1891 Census the family was shown living at Breakspeare Road, Abbots Langley. Thomas died in the winter of 1898, and his second wife, Sophia, moved to The Wooden House, Trowley Bottom where the family was recorded in the 1901 and 1911 Census. In 1901 Bertie worked as Help on a Steam Sawyer. He married Lillian Chalk at Langleybury on 25th December 1909. His brother, John emigrated to Canada between 1911 and 1914 with Harry Chalk from Trowley Bottom.
At the time of the 1911 Census Bertie and Lillian lived with Bertie’s uncle Henry Grover at 25 Acme Road, Watford. Bertie gave his occupation as a Gardener’s Labourer, and between 1910 and November 1916 the couple had four children.
Bertie’s Service Record noted that he had “deemed” to have enlisted on 24th June 1916, and was called for service on 26th November 1917 where he enlisted to the Norfolk Regiment. Bertie noted that he lived at Trowley Bottom and had worked as an Engine Driver and Fitter’s Labourer with the Watford Manufacturing Company up to 15th August 1915, before moving to John Dickinson & Co Ltd at Nash Mills, Hemel Hempstead, where he worked as an Engine Driver.
On 28th November 1917 Bertie was posted to the 3rd Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment. He was “Confined to Barracks” on 19th December 1917 for displaying “Dirty brass on Parade”. He was first recorded in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour in January 1918 serving with the Norfolk’s. He was transferred to the Army Service Corps (ASC) on 13th Mach 1918, and joined the ASC Depot at Sydenham in south London the next day. On 13th April his rank was re-classified as a Learner Heavy Driver and on 1st May 1918 he was sent for instruction at Isleworth, and at the same point transferred to the Army Service Corps Motor Transport section (ASC-MT). On 4th June 1918 Bertie passed the Learner’s Test Steam Driver course at Isleworth, where he had been driving Foden tractors.
On 26th June 1918 Bertie was sent to France and embarked at Southampton, disembarking a day later at Le Harve. He was transferred to the 40th Auxiliary Motor Transport Company on 4th July 1918. Bertie was granted leave from 2nd April to 17th April 1919, and again between 28th August and 5th September 1919. The Abbots Langley Parish Magazine recorded that a daughter was born to Bertie and Lillian on 8th June 1919.
He was sent back to England on 24th October, having been hospitalised the day before, and remained in hospital until 27th October 1919. The reason for this was unknown.
Bertie’s Service Record noted that he remained in service until 11th December 1919, when it is assumed that he was demobilised. He was listed in the Absent Voter Records of Autumn 1918, and Spring 1919 serving with the ASC-MT, and he gave his address at Trowley Bottom, Abbots Langley.
Bertie survived the War, however his brother’s John and Walter both died. John died from illness on 3rd June 1916 at a Base Hospital in France. He had emigrated to Canada and returned to serve with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Walter was killed in action on 15th September 1916, serving on the Somme. Brother in law George Seabrook was discharged.
Additional Information
Formerly 3rd Battalion Norfolk Regiment.
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
