Contributed by Ron Inglis, October 2021
Blacksmith Hugh Owen, 23, was born in Lithgow. He lived with his wife, Maude Elizabeth, in Fifth Avenue, Berala. He was a member of the United Ancient Order of Druids, Liberty Plains Lodge whose diligent secretary lived at 51 Auburn Road, Auburn.
Private Owen served for over two years in the AIF, including both Gallipoli and the Western Front, but his active service in places of danger was less than four months.
Enlisting at Liverpool in July 1915, Owen was on Gallipoli for a little over a month prior to the evacuation. Returning to Egypt, he was posted to the 20th Battalion. The battalion disembarked at the French port city of Marseilles on 25 March 1916 and proceeded by train to the north of France and the Nursery Sector. The 1st, 2nd and 4th Australian Divisions were brought back down to the Somme and to fight around Pozières, where Owen received a severe shrapnel wound to his back on 2 August 1916.
Private Owen spent the next 12 months in hospitals and base camps in England recovering from his wounds, and 138 days VD period. Owen marched back into his battalion on 14 August 1917 and was wounded, with fracture to back and pelvis, on 20 September 1917 during the 3rd battle of Ypres in Belgium. Owen was taken back to the 2nd Canadian Hospital at Le Treport in France, a journey from the battlefield of almost 200kms. He died in Le Treport on 24 September 1917.
Owen was buried in the Mont Huon Military Cemetery near the French coastal town of Le Treport. He was one of seven Auburn Memorial men who died from wounds or disease in hospitals on the coast of France.
Most Auburn Memorial men had few personal effects sent back to their next-of-kin in Australia, but Hugh Owen's wife received: New Testament, hymn book, 2 brushes, housewife [sewing kit], German diary, notebook, letters, cards, wrist watch (silver), disc, metal cigarette case, 2 razors, wallet, photos, paper cuttings. Maude also received her husband's medals and a war pension of ￡2 p.f.
Hugh Owen is honoured on the following memorials in Australia:
- Auburn War Memorial
- Municipality of Auburn 1914-1919 Honour Roll
- Roll of Honour Australian War Memorial Canberra
His decorations:
- Victory Medal
- British War Medal 1914-20
- 1914-1915 Star
