Name
Owen John Byford
1899
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
21/03/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
A/205247
King's Royal Rifle Corps
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 61 to 64.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no Headstone. He is commemorated on the Poziers Memorial to the missing in France.
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Cheshunt memorials
Pre War
Owen John Byford was born in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, in 1899, son of William Danial Byford a, Groom and Gardener and Ada Edith Byford (nee Duffield). One of seven children although one died in infancy.
1901 Census records Owen aged 2, living with his parents, brothers Henry 97) and Archie (4) in, Goffs Oak, Herts. Minnie Haynes a school teacher was boarding with the family.
1911 Census records Owen aged 12, at school, living with his parents, four brothers and sister Edith (7), the family are now living at, “Rosedale”, Weeley Road, Little Clacton, Essex. His grandmother widow Emma Duffield in living with the family.
Wartime Service
Owen enlisted at Colchester, Essex, posted to the 22nd Training Reserve Battalion, with the service number Tr/10/6570. Later transferred to the 7th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps, with the service number A/205247.
He was promoted to Lance Corporal. Seeing action on the Western Front. He was killed in action on 21st March 1918, aged 19, during the Battle of St. Quentin (21st – 23rd March 1918). He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Poziers Memorial to the missing in France.
The Battalion suffered heavy casualties during the offensive Owen being one of them.
Additional Information
His effects of £4-7s-2d, Pay Owing and his War Gratuity of £5-10s-00d went to his mother Ada Byford. SDITGW give his date of death as 23rd March 1918.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Jonty Wild
