Joseph Stanley Owen was born in Bryn y Garreg, Flint Mountain on 12^th August, 1896 and baptised on 5^th October, 1896 at St Mary’s Parish Church. He was the second of seven children to William Owen and Harriet (Dykins).

William was born in Flint and Harriet in Mold and they were married locally in 1894. In 1901 they were living at Waen y Balls, Flint Mountain and by 1911 they had moved to 209, Chester Road. Both William and Joseph were labourers at the Oakenholt Paper Mill.

Joseph was employed in the storeroom at Messrs Courtauld’s works before he enlisted in the Army. He joined the 1/5^th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers on 1^st October, 1914 and was afterwards transferred to the South Wales Borderers, and went out to Mesopotamia. He suffered much from Malaria and other fevers and was also gassed, and was ultimately invalided home. For a time he was in a sanatorium near Aberystwyth. He was discharged on 29^th November, 1917.

Joseph married Widnes born Freda Owen on 14^th November, 1919 at St Mary’s Parish Church and their only child, Cecil Stanley, was born in February the following year. Their address at this time was 4, The Meadows.

Joseph died of Tuberculosis on 10^th August, 1920, aged 24, and was buried in the Northop Road Cemetery (Grave 2, Line 32, South Side) with his sister, Rhoda, who died in September, 1916 aged 10. It is not known if his condition was caused or exacerbated by his army service, as his service record has not survived.

He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal and is not remembered on any war memorial.

Cecil Stanley died in October, 1920 aged just 8 months and was buried with his father.

Freda re-married in the Parish Church on 1^st January, 1922 to local grocer James Hopwood (1893-1960) and they had four sons and one daughter.

Harriet died on 21^st October, 1941, aged 74, and was buried in the Northop Road Cemetery.

Obituary: She was a native of Maesydre, Mold, but had lived in Flint for the past 34 years, and was well known and esteemed in the town. She was a member of St David’s Church, Oakenholt.

William died at Lluesty Infirmary on 1^st July, 1948, aged 86, and was buried with his wife.

Obituary: Mr Owen was a native of Flint Mountain and lived all his life in the Flint district. In his earlier days he worked as a miner, and later was employed at Deeside Mills from where he retired several years ago. He was a member of St David’s Church, Oakenholt.

Freda died on 30^th June, 1970, aged 70, and was buried with her second husband in the Old London Road Cemetery.