William T. Owen

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Left to right: Kessels, Porter, Fleay, Owen, Findlay; Lieutenant Colonel Owen, CO of the 39th Battalion with his 2IC Major Findlay, July 1942.
Left to right: Kessels, Porter, Fleay, Owen, Findlay; Lieutenant Colonel Owen, CO of the 39th Battalion with his 2IC Major Findlay, July 1942.

Lieutenant Colonel William Taylor Owen was born on the 27 May 1905 in Nagambie, Victoria, Australia. He worked as a bank officer in civilian life and served as a Militia officer during the years prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) on July 8, 1940, with the service number VX45223, and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Australian Army (AIF). After the Japanese island invasion of New Guinea in January 1942, the 1400 Rabaul (Australian) garrison defenders were quickly overwhelmed by the Japanese. A withdrawal from Rabaul, down the coast resulted in many Australian deaths. Owen, a Major at that stage of the war, was Company Commander in the 2/22nd Battalion at Rabaul, he was one of only 400 to get out of New Britain safely. He eventually arrived in Port Moresby and was made a Lieutenant Colonel, assumed command of the 39th Battalion on the July 7, 1942.

He was killed in action (KIA) at 0300 hrs on the morning of July 29, 1942, as a Japanese attack intensified on the dug in position of the Australians, on the Kokoda plateau. Owen was shot just above the right eye while in his forward weapon pit. He was taken back to a hut that was used as a RAP, and examined by Doctor Vernon (Capt), his situation was deemed hopeless and when the Australians withdrew from their location at 4.30 hrs, due to the overwhelming odds, Owen was cleaned up and left as comfortable as possible.[1] The hut was shortly overrun by Japanese troops.

On August 9, Owen's body was found and buried[2] at Kokoda by members of A Company 39BN, when they retook Kokoda for a short period between August 8 and August 10, 1942. His body was later re-interred at Bomana Cemetery North-West of Port Moresby following the Japanese withdrawal from the Kokoda Trail. He posthumously received the United States Distinguished Service Cross and was Mentioned in Despatches.

[edit] Bomana War Cemetery Gravestone Inscription

OWEN, Lieutenant Colonel, WILLIAM TAYLOR, VX45223. A.I.F. 39 Bn. Australian Infantry. 29th July 1942. Age 37. Son of William and Ida Owen; husband of Daisy Owen, of Kew, Victoria. C6. E. 4.

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ Austin, Victor. To Kokoda And Beyond - The Story of the 39th Battalion 1941-1943, Melbourne University Press, ISBN 0-522-84374-3,1988,p97-98
  2. ^ Austin:1988, p110