Harry Owen was a Liverpudlian soldier who was fatally injured when hit by a car in Galleywood Road while marching with a group of soldiers to the Chelmsford's public baths in December 1942.

Harry was born in Liverpool, Lancashire in 1910, the son of John Turnbull Owen (1878-1945) and Agnes Elizabeth Porter (1880-1960). His parents had married at St. Catherine's. Edge Hill in Liverpool on 1st June 1904. At the time Harry's father had been a 25 year-old wireman living at 77 Earle Road in Liverpool. Harry had at least two siblings, John Owen (born 1905) and Agnes Owen (born 1909).

In 1911 the census recorded ten month-old Harry living with his parents and siblings at 7 Ridgeway Street in Liverpool.

During the Second World War Harry served as Craftsman 7643282 in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

Harry OWEN, Craftsman, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Fatally injured in a road traffic collision in Chelmsford. Aged 32

During the Second World War Harry served as Craftsman 7643282 in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.

At 7.50 a.m. on 28th December 1942 Harry, then aged 32, received critical head injuries after being struck by a car driven by a Galleywood man whilst marching from the village to the Public Baths in Chelmsford in a party of nine soldiers. He subsequently died at a military hospital in Enfield the following day. At the inquest into Harry's death the car driver was absolved of any blame and the coroner expressed his concern that none of the soldiers had been provided with illumination. Six other soldiers were injured in the incident.

Today Harry lies in Liverpool (Toxteth Park) Cemetery (Section 2. General Grave 860).

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