Major John Fletcher Owen, R.A.

"The London Times record's the death on June 10th of Gen. Sir John Fletcher Owen, K.C.B., Colonel-Commandant RA at Henley-on-Thames, at the age of 85 years. The third son of Canon Owen, of Hendrevinws, rector of Llaniestyn, he was born on April 9. 1839. obtained his 'commission in the Royal Artillery from Woolwich in 18S7 and in 1877 was appointed Assistant Superintendent of the Royal Gun Factories. His only experience of active service was with Wood's column in the Zulu War in 1879, when he commanded a' mounted Gatling battery at the Battle of Ulundi. 'For this service he was mentioned in dispatches and received a brevet lieutenant-colonelcy. ; From 1885 to 1888 he was commandant of the military forces of South Australia, and after a year or so as commandant of the camp and school coast defenses, Golden Hill, Isle of Wight, he returned to Australia in 1891 as commandant of the defense forces of Queensland. From 1895 to 1899 he was major-general on the staff commanding artillery brigade at Malta, and was promoted to lieutenant-general and received the reward for distinguished service. After serving as President of the Ordnance Committee, he' was promoted to general in 1004 and Colonel-Commandant, RA in 1906, when' he retired. He had been made C.B. in_ 1902 and was advanced to K.C.B. in 1900. Sir John Owen was unmarried. He had .lived at Henley-on-Thames for' that last 11 years. In his younger days he was fond of shooting and fishing".

Text provided by forum member Littlehand.