Name
Albert Edward Owen
27 December 1894
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/04/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
19162
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CARNOY MILITARY CEMETERY
L. 8.
France
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
GB Kent & Sons (Kent Brushes), Apsley, Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial
Pre War
Albert Edward Owen was born on 27 December 1894 in Hemel Hempstead, the son of Edwin and Elizabeth Owen, and baptised on 25 October 1895 at St Mary's Church, Hemel Hempstead. At the time of his birth the family were living in Queen's Place (just off Queen Street), Hemel Hempstead.
By the 1901 Census, the family had moved to 7 Bury Hill, Hemel Hempstead, where his father was working as a Painter.
At the time of the 1911 Census the family were still living in Bury Hill. Sixteen year old Albert was working as a Factory Hand at G B Kent & Sons at their brush factory in Apsley, Hemel Hempstead, where his sisters Alice and Edith also worked. His father's occupation was given as House Painter. Albert remained working for Kent's Brushes and lived with his family at Bury Hill, Hemel Hempstead until enlistment.
Wartime Service
Albert enlisted in Hemel Hempstead in November 1914 and joined the Bedfordshire Regiment. He was posted to the 7th Battalion and sent for basic training at Codford near Salisbury, Wilts. The Battalion left from Folkestone, Kent on the S S Onward on 26 July 1915, arriving at Boulogne-sur-Mer the following day.
The Battalion spent several months around Fricourt, being involved in minor skirmishes, but mostly reinforcing and improving trenches, with some sorties and night patrols when some casualties were sustained.
In early March they moved to Bray-sur-Somme and the wintery weather made trench life worse than usual, with more repairs having to be carried out. On 5 April the 7th Battalion came under increasing shell fire from the Germans and several rifle grenades also landed in their trenches.
Albert was killed instantly by a shell in his trench on 7 April 1916, aged 21, and is buried in Carnoy Military Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
His mother Elizabeth received a pension of 6 shillings a week from 20.3.19. His father received at war gratuity of £5 10s and pay owing of £3 8s 6d.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.hemelatwar.org. www.hemelheroes.com.
