John Henry Owen, born in 1898, served with the 2/7th Battalion, the Manchester Regiment as Private 54451. He was the son of John Henry Owen, of 23, Stamford Road, Kettering.

He was killed in action while facing the German onslaught on 22 March 1918, near Villeret. John has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial to the Missing.

On 21 March 1918, 66th Division was under the command of XIX Corps, holding 5000 yards of front line in the valley of the Omignon River and the upper valley of the Cologne River. The 2/7th was holding defence posts in front of Brosse Wood, where it held against repeated attacks until 6pm, when it withdrew. It was continually engaged all through next day, when John lost his life.

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From maps in British Official History, Military Operations, France & Flanders, 1918 Volume 1. The town of Saint-Quentin lies to the south of the area shown.

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