Philip Charles Owen was born on the 1st May 1897 in Ellesmere Shropshire. His parents were Rev Loftus Meade Owen and his wife Amy.

The census of 1901 records the family living in The Rectory in Hordly, Shropshire. Head of the household was 37 year old Loftus Meade Owen a Clergyman in the C of E. He had been born in Blackpool. His wife was 33 year old  Amy F Owen (she had formerly been Amy Francis Kynaston). She had been born in Huddersfield.  Their listed children were Robert R 6, Philip Chas 3 and Margaret 2.  There were three female servants – a housemaid, a nurse and a cook.

The next census in 1911, located Philip Charles as a boarder at Mill Mead School, Sutton Road, St Giles, Shrewsbury. He was 13 years old.

He is listed in UK De Ruvigny’s Roll of Honour which gives us the rest of Philip Charles Owen’s biography. It tells us that after Mill Mead School, his education was continued at St Edward’s School, Oxford. He was then employed in the offices of the Eastern Telegraph Company , Electra House London EC.  He joined the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps on the 5th August 1914 – the day after war was declared. He was gazetted 2nd Lieut in the 9th Battalion of The King’s Shropshire Light Infantry on the 5th October 1914 then promoted to Lieut (?). He trained with the 5th Battalion with which he went to France on the 20th May 1915. He was killed in action at Bellewaarde Farm on the following 25th September during an attack on German trenches.

The Commanding Officer of the 5th battalion Lt Col CC Barrett wrote

“Lieutenant P C Owen was killed on the 25th September while gallantly leading his platoon in an attack on the German trenches. I beg to assure you of the sympathy of all ranks of this battalion who deplore the loss of a brave and efficient officer and a popular man”