Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Five: Lance-Sergeant A. Owen, 1st (Airborne) Battalion, Border Regiment. killed in action at Arnhem, 24 September 1944

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Buckingham Palace enclosure, in card box of issue, addressed to ‘R. H. Owen Esq., Leyswood, Station Road, West Moors, Dorset’, extremely fine (5) £180-220

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals to Second World War Casualties.

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Archibald Owen, a Liverpudlian, served in the Indian Army prior to the Second World War. He had been working as a tram conductor in Coventry when the War began, but returned with his family to Liverpool when their home was destroyed during the first big air raid on the city. Once back in Liverpool his new house was similarly lost to bombing, necessitating a further mover to Seacombe. Recalled to the Colours, he served in North Africa and Italy, and in north-west Europe post D-Day. At Arnhem, Owen was nominally a member of the 1st Border Regiment attached to the 1st Air landing Headquarters as a member of their defence platoon, and he was killed in action on 24 September 1944, a week after landing. The following letter was written by Major Bryor Blake, the Brigade Major, to Lance Sergeant Owen’s widow: ‘I am writing as your husband’s Commanding Officer to offer you my deepest sympathy and to tell you of the circumstances under which he was hit. It occurred just before the evacuation when the Headquarters was being attacked by three tanks which penetrated to within 100 yards of our escape route. Your husband gallantly seized a Piat and with two other men went out to stop them. He succeeded in turning them aside but in the ensuing action was badly hit. I have closely questioned some men who were in the vicinity and am unable to offer you any hope that he is still alive. Darkness fell almost immediately and the evacuation took place then, so I was unable to satisfy myself personally on this matter. You will, however, be informed through official sources of the true state of affairs as soon as they can find anything out. Please write to me and let me know if there is anything I can do for you. Your husband will be missed here as nowhere else for his cheerfulness, gallantry and example. It was only thanks to men such as him that so many got away’.

Owen was 35 at the time of his death, and is buried in Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Holland.

Sold together with a photograph of the recipient.