Basil Wilberforce Longmore Owen

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Commander (retired) Basil Wilberforce Longmore Owen, M.V.O. (23 May, 1886 – 2 July, 1943) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

The son of a Reverend Canon from Mansfield, Owen gained two months' tie on passing out of Britannia on 15 September 1902.

Owen was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 1 October, 1908.[1]

While serving in Euryalus, Owen provided services in the aftermath of the Messina Earthquake in late 1908. He would receive a Messina Earthquake Medal in 1912 for this.[2]

Owen was appointed in command of the destroyer Stour on 18 April, 1914.[3]

He married Evelyn Mary Taylor on 6 July 1914.

On 9 October 1915, Vixen struck her propeller on a submerged wall in Blyth Harbour, and Owen was cautioned to be more careful in future.

Owen was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 1 October, 1916.[4]

On 17 July 1917, Owen damaged Onslaught's propeller and was again cautioned. On 26 October, he was granted sick leave. He was found fit, but only for shore service on 5 January, 1918. He worked at Haulbowline yard and provided navigation services while he convalesced. On 29 June he was found to be ready once more for sea service. On 16 July, he was appointed in command of the destroyer Mameluke.

He was appointed in command of the destroyer Sirdar on 10 August, 1918.[5]

Post-War

On 1 September, 1919, Owen was appointed in command of the destroyer Wanderer.[6]

Owen was placed on the Retired List at his own request with the rank of Commander on 7 February, 1927.[7]

Owen spent some time on "Special Service" on the books of H.M.S. President during 1933. He was appointed as Mobilising Officer for the Template:RNR's Patrol Service in 1934 and earmarked as one who would receive a War Appointment in 1937.[8]

World War II

Owen spent three weeks on a Boom Defence Course in early 1938 with three additional weeks of practical training in the work at Harwich in May of 1939. In November, he was placed in charge of Boom Defence at the Depot at Harwich. He kept at the post with the acting rank of Commander until being deemed medically unfit on 29 April, 1941 owing to heart ailments.

Owen would succumb to heart problems in July 1943.[9]

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
William R. Heilbroun
Captain of H.M. T.B. 027
Mar, 1911[10] – 5 Mar, 1912[11]
Succeeded by
Michael Carey
Preceded by
Ralph M. Mack
Captain of H.M.S. Stour
18 Apr, 1914[12][13] – 17 Jan, 1915[14]
Succeeded by
Joseph B. Newill
Preceded by
John A. Gregory
Captain of H.M.S. Vixen
17 Jan, 1915[15][16] – 26 Oct, 1915[17]
Succeeded by
George L. M. Napier
Preceded by
Eric Q. Carter
Captain of H.M.S. Ruby
late 1915[18] – 8 Jun, 1916[19]
Succeeded by
John B. Spurgin
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Nessus
29 Oct, 1915[20]c. Nov, 1915
Succeeded by
Eric Q. Carter
Preceded by
Arthur G. Onslow
Captain of H.M.S. Onslaught
8 Jun, 1916[21][22] – 26 Oct, 1917[23]
Succeeded by
John O. Barron
Preceded by
William A. C. Salmond
Captain of H.M.S. Mameluke
16 Jul, 1918[24] – 10 Aug, 1918[25]
Succeeded by
John M. Smith
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Sirdar
10 Aug, 1918[26][27] – 3 Feb, 1919[28]
Succeeded by
Ernald G. H. Master
Preceded by
Ernald G. H. Master
Captain of H.M.S. Tactician
3 Feb, 1919[29] – 1 Sep, 1919[30]
Succeeded by
Hamilton E. Snepp
Preceded by
New Command
Captain of H.M.S. Wanderer
1 Sep, 1919[31][32] – 15 Dec, 1921[33]
Succeeded by
Ernest R. Archer

Footnotes

  1. Owen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/219. f. ?.
  2. Owen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/219. f. ?.
  3. The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 382.
  4. Owen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/219. f. ?.
  5. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 907.
  6. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 897.
  7. Owen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/219. f. ?.
  8. Owen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/219. f. ?.
  9. Owen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/219. f. ?.
  10. The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 401.
  11. Owen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/219. f. ?.
  12. The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 382.
  13. Owen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/219. f. ?.
  14. Owen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/219. f. ?.
  15. Owen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/219. f. ?.
  16. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 399f.
  17. Owen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/219. f. ?.
  18. Owen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/219. f. ?.
  19. Owen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/219. f. ?.
  20. Owen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/219. f. ?.
  21. Owen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/219. f. ?.
  22. The Navy List. (November, 1917). p. 396.
  23. Owen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/219. f. ?.
  24. Owen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/219. f. ?.
  25. Owen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/219. f. ?.
  26. Owen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/219. f. ?.
  27. The Navy List. (February, 1919). p. 907.
  28. Owen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/219. f. ?.
  29. Owen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/219. f. ?.
  30. Owen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/219. f. ?.
  31. Owen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/219. f. ?.
  32. The Navy List. (January, 1921). p. 897.
  33. Owen Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/50/219. f. ?.