L/Cpl
Ernest Clinch Owen
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 01/06/1892 |
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Place of birth: Gravesend, Kent, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Miller |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: Canada |
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Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Lance Corporal |
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Service number: 439134 |
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Enlistment date: 08/05/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Kenora, Ontario, Canada |
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Units: — Canadian Infantry, 52nd Bn. (North Ontario) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 03/06/1916 |
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Place of death: Sanctuary Wood, Zillebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 24 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: Panel 24 - 26 - 28 - 30. |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Ernest was born in Gravesend, Kent to Dora Elizabeth and Ernest Clinch Owen. His mother, Dora, died in 1898. His father remarried and moved to Southam, Warwickshire, where he worked as a tinsmith, plumber, and also as the landlord of the Dun Cow Inn. In 1912 Ernest junior emigrated to Canada, where he found work in a flour mill. He enlisted in May 1915 at Kenora, Ontario and was eventually assigned to the 52nd Battalion Canadian Infantry (North Ontario).
In late May 1916, the Canadian Corps occupied the heights near Zillebeke. Its front line ran from the hamlet of Hooge over Hill 62 and Mount Sorrel to the foot of Hill 60. The positions between Mount Sorrel and Hill 62 are the only places at Ypres where the Allies held higher ground than the Germans. It was here that the Allies planned a large-scale attack.
The German attack in the morning of 2 June was the start of the Battle of Mount Sorrel. After heavy shelling, the Germans detonated four mines at Mount Sorrel that afternoon. The Württemberger troops then overran the high ground.
Canadian reinforcements, including the 52nd Battalion, were rushed to the front. After marching all night, they launched a hastily improvised attack. At the starting positions, confusion reigned. The Canadian battalions went into the attack one by one, not knowing whether the men next to them would be able to follow. Meanwhile, it was full daylight. The shelling was murderous. Only small groups managed to reach German lines. The Canadians did not succeed in taking back the high ground but were able to dig in at the foot of the ridge.
The Battalion advanced through Yeomanry Post to Sanctuary Wood in support of the 49th Battalion. Throughout the day the German artillery rained down shells on the men, who spent the day of June 3rd in the open, trying to seek shelter. The 52nd Battalion suffered heavy casualties. Many Officers were killed and the Battalion Colonel was reported missing.
Ernest Clinch Owen, 24, was killed on 3 June 1916, while on duty in the front line trenches in front of Sanctuary Wood, he was instantly killed when a shell exploded close to where he was standing. He was buried nearby, but his grave couldn’t be located after the War. Ernest is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
In late May 1916, the Canadian Corps occupied the heights near Zillebeke. Its front line ran from the hamlet of Hooge over Hill 62 and Mount Sorrel to the foot of Hill 60. The positions between Mount Sorrel and Hill 62 are the only places at Ypres where the Allies held higher ground than the Germans. It was here that the Allies planned a large-scale attack.
The German attack in the morning of 2 June was the start of the Battle of Mount Sorrel. After heavy shelling, the Germans detonated four mines at Mount Sorrel that afternoon. The Württemberger troops then overran the high ground.
Canadian reinforcements, including the 52nd Battalion, were rushed to the front. After marching all night, they launched a hastily improvised attack. At the starting positions, confusion reigned. The Canadian battalions went into the attack one by one, not knowing whether the men next to them would be able to follow. Meanwhile, it was full daylight. The shelling was murderous. Only small groups managed to reach German lines. The Canadians did not succeed in taking back the high ground but were able to dig in at the foot of the ridge.
The Battalion advanced through Yeomanry Post to Sanctuary Wood in support of the 49th Battalion. Throughout the day the German artillery rained down shells on the men, who spent the day of June 3rd in the open, trying to seek shelter. The 52nd Battalion suffered heavy casualties. Many Officers were killed and the Battalion Colonel was reported missing.
Ernest Clinch Owen, 24, was killed on 3 June 1916, while on duty in the front line trenches in front of Sanctuary Wood, he was instantly killed when a shell exploded close to where he was standing. He was buried nearby, but his grave couldn’t be located after the War. Ernest is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Sources 5
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Personnel Records of the First World War (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC) RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 7518 - 34). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
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Southam Heritage Collection https://www.southamheritage.org/southam-stories/southam-soldiers/soldiers-killed/owen-ernest-clinch/ Sources used |
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War diaries: 52nd Canadian Infantry Battalion (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4941, Microfilm reel number: T-10748, File number: 442-443). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
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War Graves Registers: Circumstances of Death (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG 150, 1992-93/314; Volume Number: 226). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
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War Graves Registry: Commonwealth War Graves (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC): RG150, 1992-1993/314, Box 39-244; Box: 108). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1595080 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=f28bec79-4cec-467b-8a5f-78b64b29295e |
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The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/1595080 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/6019167 |