Name

James Owens

Description

Belfast Telegraph Newspaper Photograph of Rifleman James Owens

Life Story

Name: James Owens.

Service Number: 8287.

Rank: Rifleman.

Battalion: 1st Battalion.

Regiment: Royal Irish Rifles.

Born: Belfast.

Died: 9th May 1915.

Address: 17 Esmond Street, Shankill Road, Belfast

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Ulster Volunteer James Owens, son of James and Annie Owens, lived with his wife Elizabeth at 17 Esmond Street, Shankill Road, Belfast

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The 1901 Ireland Census has James living at 145 Crimea Street, Shankill Road, Belfast with his mother, occupation, Flax Spinner Mill Worker, sister Elizabeth, 9 years, and a Lizzie Horner, 46 years, Flax Spinner Mill Worker, shown as a Boarder

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He had married Elizabeth Owens, Nee Thompson, on the 12th of December 1912

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James was a member of the West Belfast Ulster Volunteer Force

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James joined 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles.

As a reservist he was posted as part of the British Expeditionary Force to France on the 20th September 1914.

He was then injured at Neuve Chapelle in October and after recovering he was drafted into 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles.

James Owens was a Rifleman within 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles when he was Killed In Action on the 9th of May 1915 aged 25 years

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A local newspaper in 1915 states.

Mrs Owens of 17 Esmond Street, Belfast, has been notified by the War Office that her husband, Rifleman James Owens (8287), 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, was reported wounded and missing after the engagement at Rouge Bancs on May 9th. Owens, who was a reservist, employed at Messrs Workman Clark's, is a member of the West Belfast Regiment Ulster Volunteer Force, and went to the front with the 2nd Battalion last August, and was wounded at Neuve Chapelle in October. After recovering he was drafted to the 1st Battalion. His wife would be grateful for any news as to his fate

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Another newspaper in 1915 states.

Mystery surrounds the fate of Rifleman James Owens (8287), 1st Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, who was reported wounded and missing after the engagement at Rouge Bancs on May 9. His mother, who resides at 58 North Boundary Street, Belfast, would be grateful for any information

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A local newspaper in 1916 then states.

Private James Owens, Royal Irish Rifles, of 58 North Boundary Street, Belfast, who was reported missing on the 9th August 1915, is now officially reported to have been killed on or since that date

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James Will, signed and dated 6th October 1914 at St Nazaire, France, left his Property and Effects to his widow, Lizzie.

A Dependant Pension Application Form shows both his mother and wife as claimants. This document also shows us that his wife remarried a Thomas Thompson on the 9th April 1917

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James received the British War Medal, Victory Medal and 1914 Star

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He is Remembered at Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.

To Remember Is To Honour

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