Family :

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

21 March - 4 July 1918. The Battles of the Somme in 1918 were mostly concerned with stemming the German advance which started in March 1918 and which made considerable gains in the Somme/Arras sector. Utilising surplus troops which had become available following the surrender of Russia after the October Revolution, the Germans gambled on a massive campaign that could win the war in the west before the USA could bring its resources to bear. Initial gains were in places spectacular but eventually dogged resistance coupled with supply problems and sheer exhaustion closed down the battle. Other attacks were launched along the front to probe the Allied defences but the same pattern of initial gains followed by stalemate prevailed. British casualties were almost 345,000.

Detail :

The war diary for the 9th Battalion, the Cheshire Regiment records: "At 5 am a reconnaissance of the positions around GREVILLERS was carried out by the Commanding Officer and, in conjunction with the O.C. [...] N. Staffs [and] 1/4 K.S.L.I., it was decided to take up fresh positions (on the left of the 51st Disn [Division?]) in G36a and, thus filling what had been a gap in the line. Their dispositions were "D" Coy on the left - "C" Coy in the centre - "B" Coy on the right - "A" Coy were to support and to the right - HQ were in the rear of "A" and had one officer and 30 O.R. of the T.M. Batter attacked with guns. HQ subsequently moved to protect the right flank and obtain touch in this trench line witht he 51st Division on the right. At 9am the attacki on the front line appeared to have commenced and by 12 noon the enemy was seen preparing for his attacon on the battalion positions. He gradually worked forward under cover of M.G. and shrapnel fire until contact was made by our troops on the main road in I31a and G30.d. The troops at the latter point, belonging to the Brigade on our left, were withdrawn through GREVILLERS and the enemy thus gained possession of the high ground at G.36.b.5.0. 3 sections of M.G.s of the 19th M.G. Battn has taken up positions in the battalion support line and together with M.G. established in LOUPART WOOD in G.34. b (sheet 57.c) inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy as he endeavoured to force large numbers of troops through over this high ground in G.36.b.5.0.

He was, however, able to establish M.G.'s at this point and with them to enfilade the Battalion's positions. By 1.30 pm enemy masses were able to approach the trenches and preare for a heavy assault. The front companies were consequently withdrawn through the supports under cover of rifle fire and of M.G. fire from LOUPART WOOD in G.34 and 35. This latter fire proved most effective and inflicted very heavy casualties on the enemy, who was seen to fall in large numbers. When the foremost enemy troops were beginning to swarm into the Battalion's support positions, the remaining companies withdrew under cover of small rear guards, and formed up on the crest of the rise (about G.33 6.9.0) W. of LOURPART WOOD. From here the battalion in conjunction with the rest of the Brigade withdrew to the high ground in I.26.6 where fresh positions were taken up commanding the slopes down from LOUPART WOOD to IRLES. From this position fire was maintained on the enemy as he advance down the slopes through G.28.C and 27.d?? and round the valley from G.33 Central. Having been able to fight his way throug in the low ground on the battalion right, the enemy was able to enfilade the Brigade positions from the direction of MIRAMONT. In conjunction with troops on the left, therefore, the Brigade withdrew thro' the 62nd division to positions on their (the 62nd Div) support line, S.E. of ACHIET-LE-PETIT, which were reached about 7 pm. Capt. J.R. GRIFFITHS [Report author?]. 2nd Lieuts CRAY, ECFOX wounded in action, GH VERITY missing, 2nd Lt HM OWEN died of wounds..." .

Liverpool Daily Post 04 April 1918 - "OSWESTRY OFFICER CASUALTIES. [...] Second-Lieutenant Herbert Morris Owen, Cheshire Regiment, who has died of wounds, is the second son of Mrs. T. Owen, Holly Bank, Oswestry, to have sacrificed his life. His brother was killed some time ago. [...]"

See also: Men on the Gates

Additionally, his name is listed amongst nine names of Freemasons of the Province of Gloucestershire, located at Gloucester Cathedral in the Cloisters, which was reported in the Gloucester Journal 30th October 1920: "WAR MEMORIAL ERECTED IN THE CATHEDRAL. A bronze masonic memorial tablet has recently been erected in Gloucester Cathedral to the memory of Freemasons of the Province of Gloucestershire who fell in the Great War. The tablet which was designed by Mr. N.H. Waller of College Green, Gloucester, and executed by Messrs. Martyn of Cheltenham, ahs been surmounted by masonic emblems, and placed within the cuspated stone panelling of the north wall of the Cloisters- a most appropriate position in view of the fact that the north walk owes its restoration to the munificence of the Freemasons of the county-and it has been deservedly admired by all who have seen it. Nine names are recorded in the order of Lodges to which the deceased respectively belonged."

Masonic :

The contribution record at the United Grand Lodge of England shows "Killed in Action March 1918."

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley