Owen John Owen, Royal Anglesey Royal Engineers

The 2nd Siege Company was composed mainly of men from Holyhead, most of these being craftsmen and workers, such as fitters, boilermakers, carpenters and other skilled trades. Many of the men were previously employed at the workshops of the Locomotive Department and workshops of the dry dock for the cross channel steam packets of the Marine Department of the London & North Western Railway Company, Ltd.

Born at Holyhead, the son of Owen and Ann Sarah Owen, Garreglwyd Cottage, Holyhead. In 1911 the family lived at 37 Gilbert Street, Holyhead. His father, Owen Owen (45) was employed as a Domestic Gardener and came from Holyhead. His mother, Ann Sarah Owen (37) was born at Llanfair P.G., Anglesey. Also resident were his sister Violet Ann (10) and William Holland Owen (4). All were born at Holyhead. In 1901 the family had lived at 8 Morton Road, Holyhead. He was employed by the LNWR as a Loco Cleaner at Bangor.He enlisted at Holyhead and entered France on 15 December 1914.

It is believed that he was killed at Hill 60, Ypres Salient. This was during the 2nd Battle of Ypres when the British and French armies came under fierce attack and when poison gas was used by the Germans for the first time. In early May British troops were ordered back to form new defensive positions and whilst doing so came under heavy artillery fire and infantry attack. Sapper Owen was one of three 2nd Siege Company RARE soldiers killed on that day. His father died in February 1947 and his mother in January 1966.

He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, Victory Medal and British War Medal.

Buried in Ypres Town Cemetery Extension. Grave location I.C.4. Also commemorated on the LNWR Roll of Honour and remembered on a family grave at Maeshyfryd Cemetery, Holyhead.