Major Derek Edward OWEN (908/A1) MC
4th Battalion 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles

Date of birth: 8th April 1918
Date of death: 4th October 1946

Killed on active service aged 28
Buried at Delhi War Cemetery Plot 5 Row K Grave 15
He was born at Livingstone, Northern Rhodesia, on the 8th of April 1918, the only child of Albert Edward Owen, civil servant, and Elizabeth Ashworth (nee Hulse) of "Batoka", Anthony’s Avenue, Parkstone, Dorset.

He was educated at the Diocesan College Rondebosch, Cape Town, and at the King's School Canterbury from September 1934 to July 1936, where he was in Langley House and, in 1935 when Langley House was closed, he moved to Walpole House. He won his colours for PT and Boxing and was a member of the 2nd Rowing IV.

In July 1936 he passed 25th into the Royal Military College Sandhurst from where he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Indian Army on the 27th of January 1938. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 27th of April 1940 and to Captain on the 1st of January 1941. He was mentioned in despatches in April 1945 and was awarded the Military Cross on the 17th of January 1946: - "In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Burma".

The Citation reads:-

"During the operations outside Pakokku which culminated in the capture of the town on the 24th of February 1945, Major Owen commanded his unit with skill and determination carrying out all the tasks allotted to him without fail or delay. This young officer assumed command of the battalion during an action at Kunhla just outside Pakokku, when his commanding officer was mortally wounded. At that time the success of the action was still in doubt, but Major Owen quickly took command and by his personal leadership under heavy fire directed the efforts of the battalion which, with the close co-operation of a squadron of tanks captured all of its objectives. The result of this action was to clear the way for the preparation for the opposed crossing of the River Irrawaddy at Nyuang and permitted these preparations to proceed unhindered by the enemy. Major Owen's name was continually brought to notice for skilful and determined leadership as a rifle company commander during the Arakan operations of 1943/1944 and during the operations on the Jessami track near Kohima in June 1944. Since July 1944 there have been three changes in command of the unit. Throughout these changes Major Owen was the link whereby continuity was maintained, and it is largely due to his efforts that the high reputation and fighting efficiency of the unit was upheld."

He was killed in motorcycle accident at Agra in India.

A school prize was founded in his memory.
Walpole House

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