In memory of Vernon Elias Owen
Vernon Elias Owen was the only son of Rev Thomas Edward Owen, vicar of Aberdaron, and Eleanor Owen.
He was born in 1893 and became a boarding pupil at Friars School in Bangor, where his father was for some time the Minor Canon at the cathedral. He participated in Sunday School activities in Aberdaron while at home in the holidays. In December 1914 he decorated a “well-laden and illuminated Christmas tree” at the vicarage as a surprise for the Sunday School children after their Christmas concert.
While studying theology at the University College of North Wales in Bangor, Vernon played football for the college, Bangor Athletic and Bangor Town. He specialised in defending. For a while he captained the college team.
He also belonged to the university’s officer training corps. He enlisted at the college in October 1914 and joined the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. In 1915 he took part in the Battle of Loos, Britain’s biggest attack on the German lines so far in the war.
On 7 November 1915 Second Lieutenant Owen was in the thick of the action near Cambrai. His orders were to lead a platoon on the most direct route possible towards the enemy trenches, in daylight. However, the soldiers became bogged down in thick mud. Vernon climbed to the top of a trench to see if there was enough cover for his men to proceed outside the trench. A bullet hit his left thigh.
He went to a Red Cross hospital in Le Touquet. Telegrams arrived at Aberdaron vicarage informing Mr and Mrs Owen that Vernon was dangerously ill and inviting them to visit, even if they had no passports. A final telegram, on 29 November, reported that Vernon had died of secondary haemorrhage. His father was with him for his last few days, when he said that his chief wish was to recover and return to Aberdaron.
Vernon was 22 years old. He is buried at Etaples Military Cemetery. In August 1916 an oak vestry in his memory was dedicated at a memorial service at St Hywyn’s Church, Aberdaron.
With thanks to Sue Smith
Return to Aberdaron war memorial page
Return to Bangor war memorial page
Vernon Elias Owen (llun uchod) oedd unig fab y Parch Thomas Edward Owen, ficer Aberdaron, ac Eleanor Owen.
Cafodd ei eni yn 1893 a daeth yn ddisgybl preswyl yn Ysgol Friars ym Mangor, lle bu ei dad am beth amser yn y Canon Mân yn yr eglwys gadeiriol. Cymerodd ran yng ngweithgareddau'r Ysgol Sul yn Aberdaron tra yn y cartref yn ystod y gwyliau. Ym mis Rhagfyr 1914 addurnodd "goeden Nadolig llawn addurniadau a goleuadau" yn y ficerdy fel syndod i blant yr Ysgol Sul ar ôl eu cyngerdd Nadolig.
Tra'n astudio diwinyddiaeth yng Ngholeg Prifysgol Gogledd Cymru ym Mangor, chwaraeodd Vernon bêl-droed i'r coleg, Bangor Athletic a Tref Bangor. Roedd yn arbenigo mewn amddiffyn. Am gyfnod bu'n gapten ar dîm y coleg.
Roedd hefyd yn perthyn i gyrff hyfforddi swyddogion y brifysgol. Ymrestrodd yn y coleg ym mis Hydref 1914 ac ymunodd â'r Ffiwsilwyr Brenhinol Cymreig. Yn 1915 cymerodd ran ym Mrwydr Loos, ymosodiad mwyaf Prydain ar linellau'r Almaen hyd yn hyn yn y rhyfel.
Ar 7 Tachwedd 1915 roedd yr Ail Is-gapten Owen yn drwchus y weithred ger Cambrai. Ei orchmynion oedd arwain plas ar y llwybr mwyaf uniongyrchol posibl tuag at ffosydd y gelyn, yng ngolau dydd. Fodd bynnag, atalwyd y milwyr gan fwd trwchus. Dringodd Vernon i ben ffos i weld a oedd digon o orchudd i'w ddynion fynd tu allan i'r ffos. Tarodd bwled ei glun chwith.
Aeth i ysbyty yn y Groes Goch yn Le Touquet. Cyrhaeddodd telegramau ficerdy Aberdaron yn hysbysu Mr a Mrs Owen fod Vernon yn beryglus o wael ac yn eu gwahodd i ymweld, hyd yn oed os nad oedd ganddynt basbortau. Ar 29 Tachwedd, adroddodd telegram olaf fod Vernon wedi marw o waedlif eilaidd. Bu ei dad gydag ef am ei ddyddiau olaf, pan ddywedodd mai ei brif ddymuniad oedd gwella a dychwelyd i Aberdaron.
Roedd Vernon yn 22 oed. Claddwyd ef ym mynwent filwrol Etaples. Ym mis Awst 1916 cysegrwyd festri derw er cof amdano mewn gwasanaeth coffa yn Eglwys Sant Hywyn, Aberdaron.
Gyda diolch i Sue Smith
Dychwelyd i dudalen cofeb rhyfel Aberdaron
Dychwelyd i dudalen cofeb rhyfel Bangor