Name
Owen Philip Powell
24 February 1898
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
03/09/1919
21
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sub-Lieutenant
Royal Navy
H.M.S. "Verulam"
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARCHANGEL MEMORIAL
Buried at Styrsudd Point Cemetery, Finland
Russia
Headstone Inscription
HIS COUNTRY'S SERVICE IN THE BEAUTY AND PROMISE OF HIS YOUTH
UK & Other Memorials
Tewin Village Memorial, Individual plaque St Peter’s Church, Tewin, Harmer Green & Digswell Memorial, Harmer Green, St John's Church Memorial Plaque, Digswell, Memorial West Window of All Saints Church, Okehampton, Devon (dedicated to 16 men who died on HMS Verulam), List of Etonians who fought in the Great War 1914-1919 (Book)
Pre War
Owen Philip Powell was born in Chelsea on 24 February 1898, the only son of Owen Markham Powell (solicitor)and Harriet Powell. He was baptised on 11 April 1898 at St Martin, Dorking, Surrey, when their address was given as 12 Walton Place, Chelsea.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Harmer Green and his father's occupation was given as Solicitor. Owen was educated at Eton College and left in 1916.
Wartime Service
He was appointed as Midshipman on 15 January 1917 and served on the HMS Warspite from 3 Feb 1917 and was promoted to Sub Lieutenant on 15 May 1918.
He served on HMS Verulam but drowned when it struck a mine on the night of 3-4 September 1919 and sank within two minutes, whilst on anti-Bolshevik operations in the Gulf of Finland. Eight men were washed ashore but only three were identified. They were buried on a hill among pinewoods a quarter of a mile from the sea. The plot, called Styrsudd Point Cemetery, was purchased and fenced by the Finnish Government.
Additional Information
Probate was granted to his father in London on 24 January 1920 with effects of £3972 16s 10d.
His father, O M Powell Esq. of Harmer Green, Welwyn, Herts. ordered his headstone inscription: "HIS COUNTRY'S SERVICE IN THE BEAUTY AND PROMISE OF HIS YOUTH".
HMS Verulam was an Admiralty V-Class destroyer and launched on 3 October 1917. HMS Warspite was a Dreadnought Battleship launched in 26 November 1913.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jim Maynard, Robert Gill –" Our Welwyn Garden City" website (Herts Memories),
