Robert David Owens was born in Ysceifiog, Flintshire during 1894.

During April 1901 the family lived at Trefraith Cottage, Ysceifiog, Flintshire.  The head of the family was Richard Owens aged 40, who was employed as a Farm Worker.  His wife Elizabeth Owens aged 32 and their 5 (five) children – Elizabeth Ann Owens aged 12, Mary Owens aged 9, Robert David Owens aged 7, Kate Owens aged 3 and William Owens aged 11 months.

The 1911 Census tells us that the family now lived at Iron Chapel House, Ysceifiog, Flintshire.  Richard Owens was employed as a Labourer in the local Cement Works.  Mary Owens was employed as an Overlooker in the Afonwen Paper Mill, Robert David Owens was a Paper Wetter in the same Paper Mill.  (His work entailed dampening the paper for printing).  They  now also had three additional children – Arthur Owens aged 8, Edmund Owens aged 5 and John Thomas Owens aged 2 years.

Sometime after this Richard Owens died and the family moved to live at 3 Water Street, Caerwys, Flintshire.

Robert David Owens enlisted at Denbigh with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and after training arrived in France with the Battalion on 2 December 1915.

On 24 March 1917 a payment of £2.12s.8d was made by the War Office to Richard Owens, this being monies owed to his son Robert.  On 18 August 1919, a further payment which is recorded as a War Gratuity of £8.10s.0d was also made to him.

He is also remembered on the North Wales Heroes Memorial Arch, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, North Wales.

There is a Flintshire Roll of Honour card for him at the County Archives Office, Hawarden which was completed on 13 November 1919.